Puri: The district administration has decided to rehabilitate beggars in the pilgrim town of Puri by providing them shelter. A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting chaired by Collector Balwant Singh here yesterday.

As per the decision, the beggars will be provided shelter in special houses namely 'Niladri Nilaya'.  As many as eight shelter homes, each having a accommodation capacity of 50, will be constructed in the town.

Identification and shifting of the beggars will be carried out by social welfare officers with the help of NGOs. The beggars will be provided food, clothes and other basic amenities free of cost at the shelter homes.

Further, families of the beggars will be contacted for sending them home. Funds for the purpose would be allocated under ‘Praful’ scheme of the Odisha Government.