Mukerjee, A.Ullah, A. and Biswas, S.  <br/><br/>
Forced child begging practices in India: A sociological analysis 

 - Dialogue   
 - 21(4), Apr-Jun, 2020: p.149-155 
<br/><br/> Despite India’s economic growth in the recent years, begging still remains a big social problem in India. Begging is prevalent mostly in the tourist areas, including areas around important monuments, railway and bus stations, religious sites, shopping districts, traffic intersections, etc. The percentage of beggars vary from state to state. As per the latest census of the Government of India, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh have a large percentage of child beggars. Uttar Pradesh, in particular, has a very high percentage of child beggars. Begging in India often involves organized gangs. Beggars commonly exchange a significant share of their begging to the gang’s leader in lieu of the privilege of begging in a particular area. Child beggars constitute a robust section of beggars in India. A report of Indian Human Rights Commission reveals that 40,000 children are abducted in India annually and a substantial section of them are forced into begging. Reproduced