LUCKNOW, Dec. 8 -- Non-profit organisation Ummeed, in collaboration with the Lucknow district administration and the social welfare department, on Sunday felicitated 31 people who earlier used to beg but were later brought to the mainstream society and employed into different trades. The NGO organised an event "From Begging to Self-Reliance" at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Lucknow in which former Indian cricketer RP Singh along with principal secretary, labour, Shanmuga Sundaram MK; MLC Pawan Singh Chauhan; chief development officer, Lucknow, Ajay Jain and founder/secretary of Ummeed Balbir Singh Mann were present. Speaking on the occasion, RP Singh encouraged the people and children who had left begging and inspired them to achieve their goals through hard work and dedication. He shared his life story, saying that he came from a small village but later achieved his goal through immense hard work. He expressed his commitment to join this campaign and contribute in making the country beggary-free. The principal secretary, labour, Uttar Pradesh, said the labour department will contribute to this campaign by connecting children to education and people to employment. Lucknow chief development officer Ajay Jain informed the public about the efforts being made to free Lucknow of begging through the "Bhikshamukta Abhiyan" led by Lucknow DM Vishak G. Pawan Singh Chauhan pledged to contribute to provide employment to those who have given up begging and taken up employment, and urged everyone to cooperate as much as possible in this campaign....