Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government has ramped up efforts through its state-wide “Jeevan Jyot” campaign to rescue child beggars and help them return to a life of dignity through access to education, shelter, and a safe future. This was shared by Dr. Baljit Kaur, Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development.
Dr. Kaur revealed that 16 special operations were conducted by District Child Protection Units (DCPUs) in 16 districts, resulting in the rescue of four children involved in begging. The districts where these operations took place include Barnala, Bathinda, Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Hoshiarpur, Malerkotla, Moga, Patiala, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar, SBS Nagar, Sri Muktsar Sahib, and Tarn Taran.
Out of the four rescued children, two were from Fazilka and two from Patiala. The children from Fazilka were returned to their families after proper documentation and counselling, while the identification and verification process is still ongoing for the remaining two.
Dr. Kaur further noted that within the first 10 days of the campaign, a total of 192 children have been rescued across the state. She also issued a strong warning to those who force minors into begging, including parents or guardians, stating that strict legal action will be taken against anyone who exploits children or violates their right to safety, education, and development.