Under an intensified campaign to curb child begging, the District Level Child Begging Prevention Task Force on Tuesday rescued 11 children, including 10 girls, during coordinated raids across Jalandhar district. The operation marked the second consecutive day of large-scale action by the Social Security, Women and Child Development Department, following a long lull in such enforcement drives.
Second day of coordinated raids
Officials said the raids were conducted as part of the Jeevanjot Project, a state-backed initiative aimed at eradicating child begging. Joint teams comprising department officials and police personnel covered multiple high-footfall locations, including Jalandhar Railway Station, Jalandhar Cantt Railway Station, Devi Talab Mandir area and Pathankot Chowk. Parallel checks were also carried out in different blocks of the district by teams led by Child Development Project Officers.
21 children rescued in two days
With Tuesday’s action, the total number of rescued children over the past two days has risen to 21. This includes 16 girls and five boys, all aged between six and 14 years. On Monday alone, 10 children—six girls and four boys—were rescued from busy intersections such as the city bus stand and surrounding areas.
Medical care and rehabilitation
District Programme Officer Manjinder Singh said all rescued children were first provided medical examinations and treatment at the Civil Hospital. They were later produced before the Child Welfare Committee, Jalandhar for further orders. District Child Protection Officer Ajay Bharti and other senior officials were present during the process.
According to officials, the rescued girls have been placed in the Children’s Home in Jalandhar, while the boys were shifted to a government-run facility in Ludhiana for care and rehabilitation.
Raids to continue, child labour next
Speaking to The Tribune, Manjinder Singh acknowledged that raids of this scale were being conducted after a considerable gap but assured that enforcement would now be more frequent. “One of the challenges we face is that children often scatter or run away once raids begin. However, we are determined to sustain these efforts,” he said.
He added that the department also plans to intensify action against child labour in the district. “Our aim is to make Jalandhar completely free of child begging and to address all forms of child exploitation,” Singh said.