8 children rescued in anti-child begging drive under Project Jeewanjyot 2.0 in Mohali

The administration reiterated that ensuring education, safety, and rehabilitation of every child remains its top priority.

SAS Nagar, Mohali, child begging, Project Jeewanjyot 2.0, Punjab government, Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister,

The administration reiterated that ensuring education, safety, and rehabilitation of every child remains its top priority. (File photo)

In action against child begging, the district administration of SAS Nagar (Mohali) rescued eight children during an evening anti-child begging drive conducted under the Punjab government’s flagship initiative Project Jeewanjyot 2.0. The drive was carried out in compliance with the directions of Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr Baljit Kaur.

Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal said that the rescue operation was aimed at protecting vulnerable children and safeguarding their rights. “Pending verification of their identity and documents, all rescued children have been shifted to registered Child Care Institutes to ensure their safety and rehabilitation,” she stated.

District Child Protection Officer Navpreet Kaur, who jointly led the drive along with District Programme Officer Nikhil Arora, emphasised that forcing children into begging is a punishable offence under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, which provides for stringent action against offenders.

The chairman of the Child Welfare Committee, Kulwant Singh Guru, said that DNA testing would be recommended to the Deputy Commissioner for approval in cases where alleged parents fail to produce valid birth or identity documents.

The administration reiterated that ensuring education, safety, and rehabilitation of every child remains its top priority. Citizens have been urged to report cases of child begging on Child Helpline 1098 for immediate intervention.

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