The Business of Begging: Inside the Surprising Wealth of an ‘Impoverished’ Face in Indore’s Streets
Traders and shoppers navigating the glittering lanes of Sarafa Bazaar believed they were witnessing a daily tragedy of destitution.
A middle-aged man, visibly afflicted by leprosy, would glide slowly through the crowded market on a wooden cart.
A tattered bag rested on his back. His hands gripped worn-out shoes to steady himself as he moved.
He never asked for money. He didn’t have to. His presence alone was enough to loosen wallets.
Last week, the carefully constructed image of poverty collapsed.
A Beggar Richer Than His Benefactors
Authorities in Indore revealed that Mangilal, 50, the familiar figure from Sarafa’s lanes, was far from destitute.
In fact, officials say he owned three houses, multiple vehicles, and ran an informal money-lending operation, earning more than many of the people who dropped coins into his hands.
Mangilal was “rescued” during a late-night anti-begging drive conducted by the Women and Child Development Department, after officials received a tip-off around 10 pm on Saturday.
What they uncovered startled even seasoned administrators.
“He owns three concrete houses, including a three-storey building,” said Dinesh Mishra, nodal officer for Indore’s begging eradication campaign.
“He has three autorickshaws that he rents out. He even owns a car — and hires a driver — to travel to begging spots.”
Silent Solicitation, Steady Income
Mangilal’s method was subtle and effective. He never verbally sought alms. Instead, he positioned himself strategically near shoppers, relying on discomfort, pity, and habit to generate income.
Officials estimate he earned Rs 400–500 daily from begging alone, in addition to over Rs 1,000 a day from money lending.
According to the administration, he had loaned Rs 4–5 lakh to people in the Sarafa area, collecting daily interest — a parallel economy operating quietly in the shadow of a luxury marketplace.
Properties Across the City
Investigators linked Mangilal to:
- A three-storey house in Bhagat Singh Nagar
- A 600-square-foot home in Shivnagar
- A one-bedroom flat in Alwas
Despite this portfolio, Mangilal lived modestly with his elderly parents in Alwas, while his brothers resided separately.
Following his rescue, he has been shifted to Sevadam Ashram in Ujjain, where authorities say further assessment is underway.
Cracking Down on a Hidden Economy
District Collector Shivam Verma confirmed that action would follow once verification is complete.
“Indore is a beggar-free city,” he said. “The government is ensuring rehabilitation so that no one faces inconvenience, but misuse of sympathy will not be tolerated.”
Indore’s anti-begging campaign, launched in February 2024, has already exposed how begging in urban India is not always a marker of helplessness — but sometimes a calculated livelihood strategy.
Numbers That Tell a Bigger Story
- 6,500 beggars identified in initial surveys
- 4,500 counselled to stop begging
- 1,600 rescued and sent to rehabilitation centres
- 172 children are enrolled in schools
The city, already celebrated as India’s cleanest for ten consecutive years, has gone further — banning begging, giving alms, and even purchasing goods from beggars.
Sympathy as a Commodity
Mangilal’s story is not just about one man. It highlights a deeper, uncomfortable truth: in some cases, poverty on the streets is curated, sustained, and monetised, while genuine hardship risks being overshadowed.
As Indore tightens enforcement, the question facing cities across India is stark — how to balance compassion with accountability, and charity with truth.
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