Dimapur, August 28 (MExN): The National People’s Party (NPP) Nagaland has urged the Nagaland State Government to introduce a law prohibiting begging, warning that the practice could lead to illegal immigration, drug-related issues, and wider security risks, particularly with the expansion of railway connectivity into the State.
In a statement, the NPP Nagaland said it “welcomes the recent decision of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly to ban begging in public places.” While acknowledging that “cases of begging in Nagaland are currently very negligible,” the party cautioned that “there is genuine concern that such practices could encourage illegal immigrants to exploit public sympathy and gradually pose social, demographic, and security challenges to the State.”
It added that “most persons indulging in begging in Nagaland are outsiders, and many are suspected to be involved in illegal activities such as petty theft, drug abuse, and even acting as carriers or informers for anti-social elements.
According to the NPP, a law prohibiting begging would not only safeguard peace and order but also act as a deterrent against unwanted entrants at a time when expanding railway access makes Nagaland more vulnerable to infiltration. “Such a law will serve as a deterrent to unwanted entrants into Nagaland, especially at a time when the expansion of railway networks makes access to the State much easier. A proactive step now will help secure our borders and protect the interests of our citizens,” it said.
The party proposed that the Nagaland Begging Prohibition and Rehabilitation Bill should be framed with a dual focus on enforcement and welfare, banning organized begging and preventing misuse by illegal immigrants while also providing care, rehabilitation, and vocational support for genuine local cases. It maintained that the legislation would help maintain the dignity and safety of marketplaces, traffic points, and places of worship, while also securing the State from illegal activities, drug abuse, infiltration, and exploitation linked to begging networks.
Stating that Nagaland must act proactively before the problem escalates, the NPP said that both law enforcement and social welfare measures must be balanced in order to protect the interests of the people.
