Begging is a global social issue, particularly prevalent in developing countries like Bangladesh. Beggars often face extreme poverty, marginalization, and social exclusion. Existing literature highlights various factors contributing to beggary, including chronic poverty, lack of job opportunities, family pressures, and even organized crime involvement. In Bangladesh, the number of beggars is substantial, with a significant proportion being children. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the situation, forcing many into beggary due to income loss and job displacement. While various rehabilitation programs exist, their effectiveness remains controversial. This study investigates the impact of a specific rehabilitation program implemented in Khulna City Corporation (KCC), Bangladesh, on the socioeconomic wellbeing and begging motivation of its beneficiaries. The research questions are: 1. Does the rehabilitation program enhance the socioeconomic wellbeing (income, expenditure, food security, and personal wellbeing) of beggars? 2. To what extent does the rehabilitation program reduce beggars' begging motivation?

The literature review examines existing research on beggary worldwide, focusing on the diverse factors contributing to this social issue. Studies in various countries including Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Nigeria, China, and Indonesia highlight the complex interplay of poverty, lack of opportunities, social pressures, and the impact of events like the COVID-19 pandemic. The review also explores the effectiveness of existing rehabilitation programs, noting inconsistencies in their success and suggesting the need for further investigation into program design and implementation strategies. The review specifically mentions the limitations of existing social safety net programs in Bangladesh in effectively addressing the root causes of beggary and achieving sustained poverty reduction.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Khulna City Corporation (KCC), Bangladesh, a densely populated urban area with a significant beggar population. Data were collected from 385 beggars using a semi-structured interview schedule. The sample comprised 59 beneficiaries and 326 non-beneficiaries of the government's rehabilitation program. A non-equivalent post-test group design was employed, classifying participants into treatment (beneficiary) and control (non-beneficiary) groups. Due to the non-equivalence of groups and the potential for confounding variables, instrumental variable (IV) regression was used to estimate the impact of the rehabilitation program. Key outcome variables included household per capita income and expenditure, household dietary diversity (HDD) as a measure of food security, and a Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI). A logistic regression analyzed the program's influence on begging motivation. OLS and Tobit regressions were also used, along with IV Tobit regression for the PWI, which was treated as a censored variable. The instrument used for the IV regression was the type of begging (street, doorstep, or both).

Descriptive statistics reveal that the majority of participants were male, older, and lacked formal education. Household income generally covered expenditure, but significant debt burdened many. The average HDD score was low (4.52 out of 12), indicating poor food security. The average PWI score was 50.69 (out of 100), suggesting neither high nor low life satisfaction. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected beggars, with an average of 96 workless days. Regression analyses (OLS, Tobit, and IV) show no significant impact of the rehabilitation program on household income, expenditure, HDD, or PWI. The program also failed to significantly reduce begging motivation. However, the analysis did reveal that having another occupation besides begging was positively associated with income. Receiving special allowances during the COVID-19 pandemic was positively associated with income and expenditure. Being married more than once was also associated with increased income, expenditure, and HDD scores. Asset loss during COVID-19 was negatively associated with begging motivation. A comparison of daily earnings shows no significant difference between beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries based on begging duration.

The study's findings demonstrate the ineffectiveness of the evaluated rehabilitation program in improving the socioeconomic wellbeing and reducing begging motivation among beggars in KCC, Bangladesh. This challenges the assumption that simply providing resources is enough to alleviate beggary. Several factors may contribute to the program's failure, such as arbitrary beneficiary selection, insufficient resources, lack of monitoring and evaluation, and a mismatch between program offerings and beggars' needs. The results underscore the complexity of addressing beggary and highlight the need for more comprehensive and context-specific interventions. The positive association of other income sources and multiple marriages with improved wellbeing suggests the need to target interventions towards broader economic empowerment and social support structures.

This study reveals the ineffectiveness of the examined beggar rehabilitation program in KCC, Bangladesh, failing to significantly impact socioeconomic wellbeing or reduce begging motivation. The lack of success highlights the need for more comprehensive, well-monitored interventions tailored to the specific needs and contexts of beggars. Future research should focus on in-depth qualitative studies to explore the underlying reasons for program failure and to identify more effective strategies for poverty reduction and social inclusion among this marginalized population. Improved program design, needs assessment, monitoring and evaluation, and motivational programs are strongly recommended.

The study's use of a non-equivalent control group design and non-random sampling may limit the generalizability of the findings. The cross-sectional nature of the data prevents causal inferences about the long-term impact of the program. The focus solely on KCC limits the generalizability of results to other urban or rural contexts in Bangladesh and other countries.