IEP Chandigarh
A total of 18 children including 13 boys and five girls engaged in begging, selling articles have been rescued by the Child Begging Rescue Teams in Chandigarh. Most of them are below the age of 14 years, said U T official.
He said that to identify and rescue children engaged in begging/selling articles, Nitika Pawar, Chairperson, Union Territory Child Protection Society-cum-Secretary Social Welfare, Women and Child Development, Chandigarh Administration had launched a Regular Child Beggar Rescue Drives a week ago. For rescuing such children, two teams comprising of District Child Protection Unit, Child Helpline-181, Child Line-1098, Anti Human Trafficking Unit and Special Juvenile Police Unit, Chandigarh formed and deployed in the city. In last one week, 18 children were rescued and admitted in Child Care Institutions of UT, Chandigarh i.e. Snehalaya for Girls and 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 official further said that 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, he added.
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.
