The Indian government has decided to abolish the category of "beggars and homeless" as a separate classification in the upcoming population census scheduled for 2027, and to include members of this category under a general category called "other".
In previous censuses, including the 2011 census, beggars and the homeless were categorized under "non-economic activities," alongside students, dependents, and retirees. However, the new survey will drop this categorization, meaning there will be no separate statistical tables on the number of beggars or their distribution by age, religion, state, or education level.
Government agencies involved in the census justified the decision by stating that previous data was neither accurate nor reliable, noting that many people avoid disclosing their practice of begging during statistical interviews due to the social stigma associated with this profession.
The last official census, conducted in 2011, showed that there were about 413,670 people in the category of "beggars and homeless people," but the authorities and concerned organizations acknowledged that the number was much lower than the actual number on the ground.
The 2027 census is set to be the first fully digital census in India's history, after the census scheduled for 2021 was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
