Chandigarh, June 22: In a decisive move to combat the social evil of child begging, the Punjab government is set to amend the Punjab Begging Act (1971) to introduce stricter punishments and heavy fines against individuals or rackets forcing children into begging. The announcement was made by Dr. Baljit Kaur, Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development.
Strict measures agaisnt offenders
Taking a big step in this direction, the Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development Dr. Baljit Kaur has announced that amendments will be made in the Punjab Begging Act (1971), through which strict punishments and heavy fines will be provided against rackets, parents or guardians who make children beg at road lights and squares.
Special teams to curb begging networks
Further information in this regard Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the Punjab government has decided to form special teams in coordination with the police administration to detect criminal rackets involved in begging at traffic lights and intersections in various cities, towns of the state. These teams will rescue the children and provide them with proper treatment, education and accommodation under government schemes for their rehabilitation.
Project Jeevanjot rescues 286 children so far
The Cabinet Minister, while issuing orders to the officials, said that if any person, parent or guardian is found begging from children, then legal action will be taken against them under the JJ Act and such persons will be punished.
Dr. Baljit Kaur said that since July 2024, ‘Project Jeevanjot’ is being run in all the districts of the state under the JJ Act, under which 286 children have been rescued so far. These children are provided with all kinds of safety and care services.
Operation ‘Smile’ to be launched in five big cities including Amritsar, Ludhiana
Dr. Baljit Kaur informed that this year a pilot project (‘Project Smile’) will be launched in 5 big cities of Punjab state Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, SAS Nagar and Bathinda. Through this, children begging on the streets and in markets will be identified and their DNA tests will be conducted, so that it can be ensured to which family those children belong to, so that cases of child trafficking or human trafficking can be prevented.