Authorities to launch 24-hour patrolling & rescue operation to curb child beggary
Monday, 09 SEPTEMBER 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Authorities will launch a 24-hour patrolling and rescue operation to eradicate child beggary from Dehradun. Two dedicated vehicles will regularly patrol the streets, rescuing children engaged in begging and connecting them with proper care and educational opportunities. This was stated by the Dehradun district magistrate Savin Bansal during a meeting with officials of various departments and agencies concerned on Sunday. He stated that this initiative will be part of a broader campaign to break the cycle of child beggary and integrate these vulnerable children into mainstream education. Bansal emphasised on the importance of education, stating, “I do not want to see a single child begging in my district. Education -not begging- is essential.” He said that the administration is committed to ensuring that all children are given the opportunity to thrive in a supportive learning environment. The DM directed the chief education officer Rajiv Dixit to prepare a proposal for establishing an intensive care centre in Dehradun. He said that the plan involves enrolling rescued children in intensive care centres, where they will receive formal education in an environment modeled after private schools to attract and retain their interest in schooling and personal development. Besides this, the administration will increase mobile education units with six such vehicles available to support rescue and rehabilitation efforts. The district probation officer Meena Bisht has been appointed as the nodal officer for the campaign, with 12 home guards and PRD personnel assigned to ensure the operation’s success. The DM also instructed daily rescue operation teams to identify and rehabilitate children involved in begging and labour. The rescued children will be brought to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and further steps will be taken to ensure they receive the necessary care and educational support.
Children begging along with adults or selling petty items and services like cleaning car windshields are a common sight in various intersections of the provisional State capital. The authorities have addressed the issue of beggary in the past but have not had a lasting impact so far.
