Srinagar, Jun 20 (KNO): Stressing rehabilitation over punitive measures in tackling begging, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar Akshay Labroo on Saturday said the administration has established a dedicated rehabilitation centre to provide food, healthcare, skill development and livelihood support to vulnerable individuals.
He further said that all NTA-prescribed SOPs for NEET will be enforced strictly across the district in coordination with police, security agencies and examination authorities.
Speaking to reporters here, the DC, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said focus is on rehabilitation rather than punitive action. “To understand begging, we first need to understand the circumstances that compel a person to resort to it. Our approach is centred on rehabilitation and support,” he said.
Labroo said the district administration has established a Special Rehabilitation Centre in Srinagar in association with the SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
He appealed to individuals engaged in begging and their families to approach the centre for assistance. “If anyone in Srinagar is forced by circumstances to indulge in begging, they should come to our Rehabilitation Centre. We will make arrangements for food, medical check-ups, skill development and livelihood support,” he said.
The Deputy Commissioner said the administration is committed to ensuring that vulnerable individuals receive adequate support so that they are not compelled to beg for survival.
The Srinagar administration recently intensified efforts to address begging in public spaces, particularly in commercial areas, markets and major traffic intersections. The DC said extensive preparations have been made after meetings between the NTA and the Jammu & Kashmir administration to ensure the examination runs smoothly.
“On behalf of the Government of India and the National Testing Agency, several meetings have been held to ensure SOPs are implemented on the ground. The Chief Secretary has also reviewed the arrangements. We will ensure that all NTA-prescribed SOPs for NEET are implemented strictly in Srinagar,” he said.
DC Labroo added that the district administration has coordinated preparations with police, security agencies and local representatives of the NTA to ensure seamless examination management—(KNO)