Beggars Corporation: transforming lives, encouraging investment instead of donations
Social worker Chandra Mishra, from Odisha, has been addressing employment issues for several years.
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New Delhi: Chandra Mishra, a social worker from Odisha, has introduced a novel idea that has transformed the lives of 14 underprivileged families - the Beggars Corporation. His slogan, "Invest, Don't Donate," urges people to refrain from giving money to beggars but to invest in them instead. Mishra managed to repay the initial investors with a 16.5 percent profit within just six months.
Amid the COVID-19 lockdown in August 2021, many impoverished individuals sought assistance from Chandra Mishra, leading to the establishment of the Beggars Corporation. Mishra trained them in skills like bag-making and provided them with employment opportunities. Gradually, the initiative gained popularity, and more beggars joined the corporation, garnering praise from prominent figures.
According to India Today, Chandra Mishra stated that they were able to return the money they borrowed to the original investors within six months, along with a 16.5% return on investment. Despite initial doubts, they were able to fulfill their promise of investment rather than seeking donations. The investors were able to make a profit from their investment, and the borrowed funds were successfully returned.
In August 2022, Chandra Mishra and his partners, Badrinath Mishra and Devendra Thapa, registered a "For Profit Company" called the Beggars Corporation. Currently, they have helped 14 beggar families become entrepreneurs. 12 of these families are involved in bag production through a collaboration with the Beggars Corporation, while the remaining two have established shops near temples where they sell religious items and flowers.
Chandra Mishra's method involves investing only Rs 1.5 lakh per beggar, with Rs 50,000 being utilized for a three-month training program to develop the necessary skills, while the remaining amount is allocated towards setting up infrastructure for the beggar's business. Alongside Beggar's corporation he has launched the School of Life, which is focused on providing education to children who beg at the Varanasi ghats.
The Beggars Corporation, founded by Chandra Mishra, has been widely acknowledged and has brought him significant recognition, including a place in the 100 Innovative Startups and the Top 16 Mindful Startups. In the beginning, 57 people invested in his campaign, and with their funding, Mishra provided skill training and set up employment opportunities for the beggars. Mishra's approach has proved to be a distinctive way of transforming the lives of beggars and has encouraged many to invest instead of giving donations.
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Kangana Ranaut sparks row: Claims Gandhi made 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' the national anthem
New Delhi: A significant political controversy has erupted following the Modi government's decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), a move that has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties. The row was further fueled by BJP MP Kangana Ranaut, who, while defending the name change, erroneously claimed that Mahatma Gandhi had made the devotional song "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram" India’s national anthem.
The central government has rebranded the flagship rural employment scheme from MGNREGA to the "Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission," abbreviated as VB-G RAM G. The removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme has been termed an insult to the Father of the Nation by the Congress and other opposition parties.
When questioned by the media outside Parliament regarding the opposition's allegations, Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut defended the government's decision by invoking Mahatma Gandhi's devotion to Lord Ram.
"How is naming it 'Ram Ji' an insult to Gandhi ji?" Ranaut asked. "Mahatma Gandhi made 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' the national anthem to organize the entire country. Therefore, this is an insult to Mahatma Gandhi? The government is fulfilling his dream by giving it the name of Ram."
Ranaut's claim regarding the national anthem was immediately seized upon by the opposition. Congress leader Supriya Shrinate shared the video of Ranaut’s statement on social media, tweeting sarcastically, "Come on brother, today we learned a new national anthem! The BJP is full of such gems."
Social media users also trolled the MP for the factual error. One user quipped, "Kangana ji forgot to mention that Bapu made this the national anthem after the country got independence in 2014," while another commented that the party finds people who "don't use their brains while forwarding WhatsApp messages."
Beyond the social media mockery, senior Congress leaders criticised the renaming on ideological grounds. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot took to X (formerly Twitter) to condemn the move.
"The biggest irony is that Mahatma Gandhi was a lifelong devotee of Lord Ram and said 'Hey Ram' in his last moments," Gehlot wrote. "Today, the central government is making a despicable attempt to sideline Gandhi ji under the guise of the same 'Ram' name (VB-G RAM G), which is highly condemnable."
मनरेगा का नाम बदलने की केंद्र सरकार की कवायद महात्मा गांधी के प्रति उनकी ओछी मानसिकता और असम्मान का प्रमाण है। सरकार पहले 'पूज्य बापू' के नाम का शिगूफा छोड़ती है और फजीहत होने पर अब 'विकसित भारत-गारंटी फॉर रोजगार एंड आजीविका मिशन (VB-G RAM G)' जैसा नाम थोपना चाहती है। बार-बार नाम…
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) December 15, 2025
गांधी जी ने ‘रघुपति राघव राजा राम’ को लेकर नेशनल एंथम बनाया था
— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) December 16, 2025
BJP MP कंगना रनौत
चलो भाई आज नया नेशनल एंथम भी पता चला है!
BJP में एक से एक शिरोमणि भरे पड़े हैं 😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/9DvyV5xLb1
