Latest news with #ProjectJeevanjot-2
Hindustan Times
25-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Anti-begging drive: Half of Punjab dists don't have child care institutes
Sangrur: The Punjab government has announced a stricter approach to combat child begging under 'Project Jeevanjot-2', but the initiative faces challenges due to the lack of child care institutes in nearly half of the state's districts. The Punjab government has announced a stricter approach to combat child begging under 'Project Jeevanjot-2', but the initiative faces challenges due to the lack of child care institutes in nearly half of the state's districts. Last week, minister for social security, women and child development Baljit Kaur introduced 'Project Jeevanjot-2', which includes a provision for conducting DNA tests on adults found accompanying begging children. This is to confirm whether the adult is the child's biological parent. If parentage is not immediately confirmed, the child will be placed in a government-protected child care institute. Barnala district child protection officer Gurjeet Kaur confirmed that the project is already active in the district, where five children have been rescued and reunited with their verified parents under the initiative. However, official data from the department reveals a gap in infrastructure. Of the 23 districts in Punjab, 11 districts do not have any child care institute. For instance, Ludhiana has 10 such institutes, Jalandhar nine and Amritsar eight, but many other districts, including Barnala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ferozepur, Malerkotla, Mansa, Moga, Pathankot, Rupnagar, Sangrur, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar and Tarn Taran have no such facilities. Some districts, including Tarn Taran and Malerkotla, are in the process of constructing child care institutes, but the shortage remains a significant concern. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, pointed out the difficulties faced by authorities when dealing with missing children or those with mental disabilities. 'We often receive cases late at night, and we have to send the children to distant districts where the child care centres are available,' the official said, adding: 'This is not only time-consuming but also complicates coordination with the parents.' Under Project Jeevanjot-2, DNA testing is seen as a critical tool in identifying children's biological parents. However, the lack of local child care institutes complicates this process. 'The absence of such institutes means we have to transport children to far-off districts, which can cause delays in the DNA testing and reunification process,' the official added. Minister of social security, women, child development and social justice Baljit Kaur could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. Principal secretary of the department Raji P. Shrivastava acknowledged the concern but stated that establishing such institutes in every district is not feasible. 'In such cases, children are shifted to the nearest available child care institute,' she said.
Time of India
20-07-2025
- Time of India
18 kids found begging with adults rescued in one day
Ludhiana: Eighteen children found begging with adults were rescued by a committee formed by deputy commissioner Himanshu Jain during raids at key locations in the city Sunday. The initiative, part of Project Jeevanjot-2, aims to verify familial relationships through DNA testing to curb child trafficking and exploitation for begging. The raids targeted high-traffic areas, including the railway station, bus stand, and Chaura Bazar, an official statement by the district administration said. The operation was led by district child protection officer Rashmi Saini, along with Ludhiana city police, RPF, representatives from NGOs Childline, and Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA). Saini warned that adults found forcing children, not related to them, to beg will face strict legal consequences. Their DNA tests will be conducted, and during the 15-20 day waiting period for the results, the rescued children will be kept in govt-run childcare home, Doraha. The DNA tests will be carried out at the Civil Hospital from Monday, she added. She reiterated that if DNA reports confirm that the adults are not biological parents, stringent action will be taken against them under anti-trafficking and child protection laws. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas Prices In Dubai Might Be More Affordable Than You Think Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Quote Undo She highlighted that Punjab is pioneering this initiative, becoming the first state in the country to implement such a drive to eliminate child trafficking and exploitation through begging. On Friday, the vice-chairperson of Punjab state commission for protection of child rights announced the launch of Project JeevanJyot 2.0, an initiative aimed at safeguarding the rights and welfare of children across Punjab. Gunjeet Ruchi Bawa directed the formation of a task force in every district as part of the initiative. "Each task force will be chaired by the DC and comprise key officials," a statement said.
Hindustan Times
19-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
41 children rescued in two days under Punjab's anti-begging campaign
Toughening its stance to eradicate child begging from the state, the Punjab government has rescued 41 children in just two days through raids at 18 locations across districts under its 'Project Jeevanjot-2'. In a first for any state in the country, if a child is found begging with an adult in Punjab, a DNA test will be conducted to establish whether the accompanying adults are the child's biological parents. (Shutterstock) Anyone exploiting children for begging in the state will face the full force of the law, announced social security, women and child development minister Baljit Kaur. 'The campaign integrates provisions from the Punjab Prevention of Beggary Act, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, guidelines of the Supreme Court and high court, and the standard operating procedures issued by the Punjab State Child Protection Commission,' she told reporters on Friday. An FIR has been registered in Bathinda where 20 children were rescued from villages suspected of being exploited for begging. In a first for any state in the country, Kaur said, if a child was found begging with an adult, a DNA test will be conducted to establish whether the accompanying adults were the child's biological parents. Until the results are made available, the child will remain in a child care institution under government protection. 'If DNA reports confirm that the adults are not the biological parents, stringent legal action will be initiated, including charges under anti-trafficking and child protection laws,' said Kaur. 'If they are not, then from where do they bring children and make them beg? With DNA testing, those who are involved in child trafficking will be caught,' she said. Repeat offenders to be declared 'unfit guardian' In another firm move, parents repeatedly found forcing children to beg will be declared 'unfit guardians'. Such children will then be placed in adoption pipelines, ensuring their future was protected, said the minister. Under this project, 18 rescue operations have already been conducted across districts within the last two days, leading to rescue of 41 children, she added. The anti-begging campaign was started in September 2024, with dedicated rescue teams formed at district-level committees to identify and rescue children found begging across the state. Kaur said in the last nine months, through 753 rescue operations (raids) across the state, 367 children were successfully rescued. 'Of these, 350 children were reunited with their families, while 17 children whose parents could not be identified were placed in child care homes. A total of 183 children were admitted to schools and 13 children under the age of six were enrolled in Anganwadi centres for early childhood care,' she said.
