Bihar to employ beggars for AIDS campaign

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Bihar to employ beggars for AIDS campaign

Monday, October 30, 2006 (Patna):

Bihar government under a novel rehabilitation scheme will utilize

the singing and dancing talent of beggars to create AIDS and polio

awareness.

The scheme, Pahchaan, a brainchild of State's Welfare Department

Secretary Vijay Prakash, is intended to suitably rehabilitate 1.5-2

lakh beggars in the state and harness their natural talent for some

productive work.

Some beggars are good at singing, others at acrobatic and dance

performers while some have tremendous stamina which could be

utilised in spreading awareness against diseases like Aids and pulse

polio programme through their street performance, the Welfare

Secretary said.

Prakash said the department with the help of NGOs, was currently

identifying beggars and studying their natural talents, which would

be further honed in a specific area through training programmes.

Depending on their aptitude, they would be engaged in varied works

and paid a suitable " honararium " , he added.

Some of them would be engaged in distributing milk and newspapers in

households.

The department would provide bicylces and tricycles to the disabled

among them. (PTI)

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