Chandigarh, July 29:
With the firm resolve that no child in Punjab should live on the streets, beg for survival, or suffer exploitation, the Punjab Government under Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann has rescued a total of 208 children from begging under the ongoing campaign Project JEEVANJYOT-2.
In the latest statewide action involving 20 special checks and raids, 5 more children were rescued and provided relief.
Sharing this information, Dr. Baljit Kaur, Minister of Social Security, Women and Child Development, stated that “JEEVANJYOT aims to lift children from the streets into the system of education and protection.”
Dr. Kaur informed that today, special operations were conducted in Barnala, Bathinda, Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Hoshiarpur, and Jalandhar. Additional checks were carried out in Kapurthala, Mansa, Malerkotla, Moga, Patiala, Rupnagar, Sangrur, SAS Nagar, SBS Nagar, Sri Muktsar Sahib, and Tarn Taran.
One child each was rescued from Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Rupnagar, Sangrur, and Sri Muktsar Sahib.
The Minister further informed that in 3 cases, after counseling and documentation verification, the children were reunited with their parents under strict warning that such exploitation must not happen again. Two other children have been safely placed in child care institutions.
Dr. Kaur reiterated that any parent found repeating such behaviour would face strict legal action.
No case requiring DNA testing was reported in today’s rescue operations. She praised the prompt and sensitive action of the district Child Protection Teams and District Child Welfare Committees.
Dr. Baljit Kaur made an earnest appeal to the public to actively support the government's efforts to build a child begging-free and 'Rangla Punjab'.
“If you see a child begging anywhere, immediately inform Child Helpline 1098 or the local administration,” she urged.
