After facing allegations of rounding up beggars during the Commonwealth Games, the Delhi government is now drafting a new legislation to facilitate various welfare measures including rehabilitation, shelter and even vocational training to them.

The government is also in the process of creating a detailed database of beggars to finalise allocation of funds for various welfare schemes for them.

"We are drafting a new legislation to deal with the problem of beggary in a humane manner," a top official of the Delhi government said.

He said the government was also considering setting up schools across the city for child beggars.

According to an estimate by the social welfare department, there are around 60,000 beggars in Delhi. Of them, 30 per cent are minors, 69.94 per cent are males and 30.06 per cent are females.

Human rights activists and NGOs have been blaming the Delhi government for forcing hundreds of beggars to leave the city or remain invisible during the course of the Commonwealth Games. However, government had denied these charges.

"Under the proposed legislation, government will provide the beggars with a rehabilitation package. The legislation is being drafted to ensure their welfare and discourage them from beggary," the official said.

Aiming to rid the city of beggars ahead of the Games, the government had set up several mobile courts and a control room assisted by police to prosecute the beggars.

Like 18 other states, Delhi has adopted the (Bombay) Prevention of Begging Act, 1959, which authorises police to detain anyone found begging on the streets.

If found guilty, a beggar is sent to one of 12 shelters in Delhi, which can accommodate about 2,200 people.

Noting that the Government was determined to provide social security to the vulnerable section of the society, the official said a survey is going on currently to estimate the total number of homeless people, including the beggars, here.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit last month had distributed "beghar" cards and provisional Unique Identification Numbers to a group of homeless people.

Homeless people will be eligible to apply for the "beghar cards" in the next six months. The card will also carry the UIDAI number.

The card is being provided to the homeless to give them a proper identity so that they can benefit from various social welfare schemes.