Social welfare

Destitute or beggar needing shelter

A destitute person or family, including a beggar, can be referred to the district shelter home and rehabilitation scheme.

Last verified: 2026-09-26

ConditionalDistrictLast verified: 26 Sept 2026

Start here

Report a destitute person to the district social welfare office for a place in the shelter home and for rehabilitation counselling.

Who is responsible

  • District Collector / District MagistrateHeads district administration; approves land use conversion, decides public land encroachment matters and chairs the District Revenue Council.
  • Social Welfare Department, BiharState social security pensions, disability certification support and welfare scheme delivery outside the SC/ST and backward-class departments.

Shelter homes for the destitute are run or supported by the social welfare department at district level, and admission is done through the district office after verifying the person's condition. In an emergency the police also picks up a destitute person and hands them over to the shelter, which is why a report can go to either office.

Important condition: Vocational rehabilitation after the shelter is a separate programme with its own waiting list; admission to the shelter does not guarantee it.

The ladder to Patna

Set your district to see local office numbers

  1. You

    Your home, village, or ward — where the problem is.

  2. Start here

    Report a destitute person to the district social welfare office for a place in the shelter home and for rehabilitation counselling.

  3. District

    District Collector / District Magistrate

    Heads district administration; approves land use conversion, decides public land encroachment matters and chairs the District Revenue Council.

  4. State

    Social Welfare Department, Bihar

    State social security pensions, disability certification support and welfare scheme delivery outside the SC/ST and backward-class departments.

  5. State

    Government of BiharPatna · state headquarters

    State government; departments deliver citizen services through ServicePlus and department portals.

If that does not work

  1. 1

    Report with the place and condition of the person

    Open official page
  2. 2

    Ask the district office for shelter home admission

    Open official page
  3. 3

    If not acted on, complain on the state grievance portal

    Open official page
Sources and evidence
  1. [1] Social Welfare Department, BiharThe Social Welfare Department runs shelter and rehabilitation services for destitute persons in Bihar.
  2. [2] Emergency helpline 112 (all-in-one emergency response, India)112 can be used to report a vulnerable person in immediate need of shelter.
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