Bharatpur Metropolitan City was officially declared a “street beggar-free zone” on Saturday.

In mid-October, the metropolis office had launched a campaign to find street beggars and rescue, relocate and rehabilitate them. The campaign coordinated with the humanitarian organisation, Manav Sewa Ashram, which rescues beggars, finds their families and rehabilitates them.

Mayor Renu Dahal said the campaign was registered under this fiscal year’s policies and programmes. Under the campaign, beggars, if spotted, are immediately rescued and housed at the Ashram, Dahal said.

The Ashram has been active in the city since 2014. About 500 beggars have been rescued in the last five years, according to Ramji Adhikari of the Ashram. Out of the rescued, 300 individuals have been rehabilitated with their families, and a 100 have passed away. The rest are currently housed by the Ashram.

“The campaign rehabilitates those individuals who are compelled to beg for a livelihood,” Dahal said. The campaign that ran for two weeks rescued a total of 250 individuals, according to Dahal. “We have talked with various businesses to employ those who can work but don’t have the means to find a job.”