‘Jyotirgamaya’: Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner’s initiative brings dignity to city’s homeless

At traffic junctions across Visakhapatnam, the familiar sight of outstretched hands and frail figures sleeping on pavements had long disturbed City Police Commissioner Shankhabrata Bagchi. Nearly ten months ago, he decided to act. The result was ‘Jyotirgamaya’—a mission to rehabilitate the city’s homeless and move towards a beggar-free Visakhapatnam.

The initiative has already begun to change lives. During the first phase, police teams, NGOs, and volunteers surveyed the city and identified 243 people dependent on alms. Of them, 45 were reunited with families after counselling, nine mentally weak persons were shifted to the Government Hospital for Mental Care, and 189 were either sheltered or provided work opportunities based on their health and skills.

“The aim is not just to move beggars away from public places but to restore dignity to their lives,” Bagchi said. “Every person has the right to live with dignity. Those who are able to work will be provided employment opportunities, and those who cannot will be given shelter and care.”

Unlike earlier attempts that simply pushed the homeless out of public view, Jyotirgamaya focuses on lasting rehabilitation. The Commissioner explained that factors such as age, health, and ability are considered before deciding the kind of support to provide. With help from NGOs and local donors, many of the rehabilitated are now engaged in small jobs that allow them to live independently.

Volunteers recall emotional reunions. One man in his 60s, who had been living on the streets for years, was traced back to his family after he expressed a desire to return home. “A few were eager to reunite with loved ones but had no idea how to reach them. In some cases, we had to counsel families to accept them back,” a volunteer said.

Police officers including Control Room Inspector Hussain, Harbour CI Simhadri Naidu, Special Branch CI Tirupati Rao, and VR CI Chappa Prasad have been central to the project’s execution. “Rehabilitation cannot be achieved through force or temporary measures. It requires compassion, patience, and consistent follow-up,” Bagchi said, crediting his team for their dedication.

The Commissioner also has plans to expand the initiative. “We are working on extending livelihood opportunities to transgenders, who also face social and economic exclusion. Our next step will be to support prisoners who have completed their jail terms, so they too get a fair chance to reintegrate into society,” he said.

With cautious optimism, Bagchi believes Jyotirgamaya could make Visakhapatnam a model for the rest of the country. “Our goal is to build a city that does not push its most vulnerable to the margins but embraces them with dignity and opportunity,” he said.