MINOR GIRL PERFORMING STUNTS ON TIGHTROPES—COUNSELLING PROVIDED

Raj Sadosh/Abohar.

A campaign has been launched in Sriganganagar to curb child begging and the exploitation of children. So far, 10 children have been rescued from begging and child labor, and they are now being integrated into welfare schemes designed for children. The same is being monitored by District Collector Amit Yadav

The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and Child Helpline 1098 have jointly initiated this campaign. As part of the effort, the children and their guardians have been counselled, and the guardians have been formally cautioned: forcing children to beg could result in a jail term.

Joginder Kaushik, Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee, said that a child—painted like a clown—was found at the Ahinsa intersection on Gagan Path Road. Additionally, the family of a girl performing stunts on a tightrope on UIT Road was counselled and urged to stop involving the child in begging. The families of children found begging were sensitized about the importance of education and the necessity of ending such practices; their domestic circumstances were also assessed.

Rajiv Jakhar, Assistant Director of the Department of Child Empowerment, has appealed to the public to report any instances of children being used for begging to the Child Helpline at 1098.

Present during the rescue operation included Child Helpline Coordinator Trilok Verma, Supervisor Meenakshi Saini and others.