Bhubaneswar, Feb. 15 -- Bhubaneswar: This is no beggar belief! Hard numbers reveal a big drop in the number of beggars residing in Odisha.

But the red alerts to the fore are the counts posted a big jump in State headquarters district Khurda, temple town Puri and Chief Minister's home district Ganjam.

As per the information provided by Minister of State for Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Ashok Panda in Assembly on Saturday, a total of 5,950 beggars have been identified in the State.

What is significant here is, Minister Panda in July 2019 had put the total beggar count in Odisha at 6,390.

A comparative glance shows a steep fall in total beggars dwelling in the State. However, it cannot be clearly s...