The modern world bestowed a person with multiple identities based on nation, religion, caste regions etc. But perhaps the most basic and unique identity that humans possess is his name.
The basic purpose of nomenclature is to distinguish and identify a being or thing from another by providing the very essence of the being to bring it into existence as a separate entity in the consciousness of humankind.

But 1.77 million people voluntarily give away(hide) this very identity for the exchange of their survival. Homeless in India are among the most marginalised section of society, who spend their entire lives at the bottom of the social ladder. But the question arises why do they have to hide their names?

The fear of persecution:
Begging in India is usually linked with criminal activities and drug addiction, even though historically it has holy connotation, form of "bhikshu" in Buddhism to sainthood in hi Sanatan Dharm. But with time the act of beggary has become synonyms with laziness, crime and drugs. Laws like the prevention of the beggary act, 1960 also help in legitimising this image of beggars.
Hence, it also became easier for the system to persecute them, whether through legal machinery by implicating them in the crimes that they never commit to saving themselves from the hectic investigation or by social mechanisms by keeping them at the mercy of the upper class.
It's no wonder when you exist in a cutthroat world like this you would become sceptical of everyone, this scepticism also refrains one to share his/her true identity. Either one needs to have a great report with the person but even then it's challenging to know the real name of a better, In one anecdote the homeless shelter's caretaker got to know the real name of the person after 10 years at his death bed.
But not just that, hiding one's name in a country like India also prevent caste and religious persecution that one might face.