What happened?
The Punjab government has amended the Vagrancy Act, introducing the Punjab Vagrancy (Amendment) Act 2025, which was published in the provincial Gazette on 24 March 2025. The new provisions impose a maximum penalty of Rs 300,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment on anyone who organizes, coerces, or profits from begging.
Why does it matter?
The amendment aims to dismantle criminal networks that exploit impoverished individuals, particularly in urban slums and peri‑urban areas of the province. Human‑rights organisations have praised the stricter deterrent, noting that it could reduce the prevalence of forced begging while urging the government to couple enforcement with social‑welfare initiatives for the affected families.
What happens next?
Police and anti‑human‑trafficking units have been authorised to investigate both recruiters and those compelled to beg, with prosecutions expected to begin shortly. Advocacy groups are calling for complementary measures such as rehabilitation centres and livelihood programs, arguing that penalties alone will not eradicate the socio‑economic drivers of begging.