Amritsar, July 18: The Punjab government has intensified the campaign against making children beg on the streets. Under this, the government has started Jeevanjot Project-2. In just two days, 41 children have been rescued by conducting raids at 18 places.
However, the case of some children caught in Bathinda seems suspicious. In such a situation, DNA test of those children will be done so that it can be known whether they were with their real parents or not. Till the report comes, these children will remain in the child reform home.
Warning to parents, severe punishment for the gangs
State Social Security Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur has said that if any parents force their children to beg, they will first be counselled. If they do not listen, they will be declared unfit guardians. After this, the process of adopting their children can be started.
At the same time, people of any gang or racket involved in such work can be punished from 5 years to life imprisonment.
There is no trace of 57 children till now
The minister said that in the last 9 months, the government had rescued 350 children from begging, and they were linked to schools and other institutions. But there is no trace of 57 of these children till now, and their investigation is also going on.
Action taken by the Punjab Government so far
1. Jeevan Jot Project: Baljeet Kaur said that the Jeevan Jot Project was launched by the government in September 2024. Its purpose was to prevent children from begging on the streets, save their childhood, connect them to school and get them treated.
2. 367 children were rescued in 9 months. A total of 753 raids were conducted during this period. When our teams went, the children and the beggars would run away, due to which many times we were not successful.
3. Out of these children, 350 children were returned to their families. Out of these, 150 children were from other states. There were 17 children whose relatives could not be identified, they were kept in a children’s home.
4. 183 children were rescued from begging and were connected to schools. Among them were 13 children below 6 years of age who were sent to Anganwadi Centre.
5. 30 children were given sponsorship, who are given Rs 4000 every month so that they can study in schools and continue their studies. 16 children were given a pension of Rs 1500 per month. Every three months the DCPO checks whether the children are regular or not. However, 57 children have been found missing from schools. A thorough investigation is being done in this regard.