“There was a time when we had to beg at the crossroads of Nagpur. Today, we will sit at Rajpath as special invited guests and watch the Republic Day parade.” This powerful journey of transformation has become a reality for rehabilitated beggars from Nagpur, who have received a special invitation to attend the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi on January 26.
The achievement is the result of the ‘Aastha Beggar Rehabilitation Shelter Centre’, a joint initiative of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and Sahyadri Foundation, implemented with the support of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. The project has emerged as a ray of hope for marginalized sections of society.
The initiative is being carried out under the leadership of NMC Commissioner Dr. Abhijit Chaudhary, with guidance from Additional Commissioner Vaishnavi B and Deputy Commissioner Dr. Ranjana Lade. Since its inception in 2022, the programme has rescued, rehabilitated, and reintegrated over 1,330 beggars into the mainstream of society.
Through the Aastha Shelter Centre, beneficiaries are provided with safe accommodation, healthcare services, counselling, skill development, and employment opportunities, enabling them to lead lives of dignity and self-reliance.
In recognition of this commendable work, three rehabilitated beneficiaries from Nagpur have been selected among 100 special invitees from across the country to attend the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi on January 26. The selected beneficiaries are:
Sharif Sheikh (61)
Anil Junghare (52)
Gayabai Shukla (70)
As part of the occasion, the beneficiaries will also present a self-written appreciation letter highlighting the impact of the Smile Aastha initiative, along with a Zero Mile souvenir symbolising Nagpur, and photographs of the Honourable President and Prime Minister of India as tokens of gratitude.
Officials from NMC and Sahyadri Foundation stated that the Aastha and Smile initiatives align with the Government of India’s vision of creating a beggar-free, inclusive, and empowered society, and play a vital role in making needy individuals self-reliant through structured rehabilitation.
The participation of rehabilitated beneficiaries in such a prestigious national event stands as a successful outcome of coordinated efforts between the government, local self-government bodies, and non-governmental organisations. Accompanying the beneficiaries to the event will be Gautam Nagre (Warden), Rakesh Gathe (Manager), and Anita Gandharvar (Superintendent).
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