Regular Child Beggar Rescue Drives are being carried across U.T., Chandigarh. The rescue drives aim to identify & rescue children engaged in begging/selling articles in order to ensure their effective rehabilitation & taking reformative measures so that a bright & safe future is provided to them.
To accomplish this task, Ms. Nitika Pawar, Chairperson, Union Territory Child Protection Society-cum-Secretary Social Welfare, Women & Child Development, Chandigarh Administration has deputed 02 teams comprising of District Child Protection Unit, Child Helpline-181, Child Line-1098, Anti Human Trafficking Unit and Special Juvenile Police Unit, Chandigarh for rescuing such children. The said teams are visiting all the major hotspots such as light points, market areas, temples and major roundabouts thrice a day at different time intervals. Further, late night visits by the teams is also being ensured.
In last one week, 18 children (13 boys and 05 girls) have been rescued by the said Child Begging Rescue Teams under the category of Child Begging/selling articles and most of them are below the age of 14 years. All the rescued children have been admitted in Child Care Institutions of U.T., Chandigarh i.e. Snehalaya for Girls & Snehalaya for Boys respectively with the due orders of Child Welfare Committee, Chandigarh in accordance to the provisions laid under Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015.
The said children are being provided with nutritious food, 24×7 medical care counseling, need based vocational courses and education. During the drives, it has been observed that 16 children are residents of Mohali, Zirakpur and Panchkula who come to Chandigarh for begging only whereas 02 children are residents of Chandigarh.
The Recsue Teams will continue to monitor begging activities at all the major hotspots. Further, general public is also requested to join hands with the administration and report cases of children involved in begging/selling articles at Childline-1098, Child Helpline-181/9915023456 and 112. The reporting of the same will help in rescuing more children consequently freeing them from the vicious circle of recieving alms which makes their life dependent on the same.
