New Delhi: The Census 2011 data on 'Non-workers by main activity and education level' released earlier this week has revealed that India has over 3 lakh beggars of whom 21 percent are literate.
As per The Times of India report, 21 percent beggars have attained education till XIIth standard.
But what is pitiable is that despite attaining education they have failed to get a job for themselves which made them resort to beggary.
"I may be poor but I am an honest man. I beg as it fetches me more money, Rs 200 a day. My last job of a ward boy in a hospital got me only Rs 100 a day," said Dinesh Khodhabhai (45), a class 12 pass who can speak half-way decent English was quoted as saying by TOI.
"People with degrees turning to begging reflects the grim employment scenario. People turn to soliciting alms when they do not get decent jobs and have no social support to fall back on," the report quotes sociologist Gaurang Jani.
Under its Skill India initiative, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government aims to train over 40 crore people in different skills by 2022.
The initiatives include National Skill Development Mission, National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 2015, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) scheme and the Skill Loan scheme..
If implemented properly, the initiative can uplift the standard of living of such people.
(With Agency inputs)
