Nagpur: A journey that began with survival on the streets has now reached the nation’s ceremonial boulevard. Three rehabilitated beggars from Nagpur, once forced to seek alms at busy city junctions, will now witness the Republic Day Parade at Rajpath in New Delhi on January 26 as special invitees, marking a powerful story of social transformation.
This remarkable milestone has been made possible through the ‘Aastha Beggar Rehabilitation Shelter Centre’, a collaborative initiative of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and the Sahyadri Foundation, implemented with the support of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. The programme has become a beacon of hope for the city’s most vulnerable citizens.
Under the proactive leadership of NMC Commissioner Dr. Abhijit Chaudhary, and with the guidance of Additional Commissioner Vaishnavi B and Deputy Commissioner Dr. Ranjana Lade, the Aastha initiative has been operational since 2022. During this period, more than 1,330 beggars have been rescued from the streets, rehabilitated, and successfully reintegrated into society.
Beneficiaries at the Aastha Shelter Centre are provided with secure shelter, medical care, psychological counselling, vocational training, and employment opportunities, enabling them to rebuild their lives with dignity and independence.
Acknowledging the impact of this initiative at the national level, three rehabilitated beneficiaries from Nagpur have been selected among 100 distinguished invitees from across India to attend the Republic Day celebrations in the national capital. The selected beneficiaries are:
- Sharif Sheikh (61 years)
- Anil Junghare (52 years)
- Gayabai Shukla (70 years)
On this occasion, the beneficiaries will also present a handwritten letter of appreciation highlighting the success of the Smile–Aastha initiative, along with a Zero Mile souvenir representing Nagpur, and photographs of the Honourable President and Prime Minister of India as commemorative tokens.
Officials from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation and Sahyadri Foundation stated that the Aastha and Smile initiatives are aligned with the Government of India’s vision of building a beggar-free, inclusive, and empowered society, emphasizing rehabilitation and self-reliance as key pillars of social justice.
The participation of rehabilitated individuals in such a prestigious national event underscores the success of coordinated efforts between government agencies, local civic bodies, and non-governmental organisations. The beneficiaries will be accompanied to Delhi by Gautam Nagre (Warden), Rakesh Gathe (Manager), and Anita Gandharvar (Superintendent).