Latest news with #ProjectJeevanjot2.0
Time of India
26-07-2025
- Time of India
Rescue of child beggars: DNA tests to confirm guardianship
Mohali: Under the shadow of the Zirakpur flyover, a rescue operation turned into a deeply emotional scene a few days back as officials from the women and child welfare dept, backed by Mohali police, intervened to save six minor children from the clutches of street begging. As officers moved in, desperate mothers clung to their children, pleading through tears. "Please don't take my child. We'll leave the state and never return," cried one woman, her voice echoing the anguish of many others. The operation was part of Project Jeevanjot 2.0, a state-led initiative aimed at eradicating child begging. According to Bachhitar Singh, who led the rescue team, such emotional resistance is a familiar challenge. "They beg us to let the children go, promising to migrate back. But our mission is clear — to protect these minors from exploitation," he said. The rescued children were immediately shifted to protection homes, where they are receiving care and support. They were later presented before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), which has initiated a thorough verification of their identities and guardianship claims. Navpreet Kaur, an officer with the women and child welfare dept, confirmed that DNA tests will be conducted if guardians fail to produce valid documentation. "If the relationship isn't verified, legal action will be taken. We cannot allow these children to fall back into cycles of abuse," she stated. This operation follows a similar rescue just a day earlier, where seven children were taken into protective custody. All are undergoing the same verification process. Authorities have issued a stern warning: repeat offenders will face criminal charges under child protection laws. "No child will be returned without verified guardianship. We are committed to ending this exploitation," Kaur emphasized. The administration is urging citizens to support the campaign and report incidents of child begging by calling the child helpline 1098.
Hindustan Times
24-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Anti-begging drive: DNA tests of children begin in Ludhiana
Six of the 18 children rescued from begging earlier this week underwent DNA testing along with four accompanying adults at the Civil Hospital here on Wednesday. This crucial step aims to ascertain the true parentage of children whose guardians could not provide credible claims, according to DCPO Saini. The initiation of DNA testing follows the establishment of a committee by deputy commissioner Himanshu Jain on Tuesday. (HT Photo) For the remaining 12 children, guardians have asserted parentage and are in the process of submitting documents such as Aadhaar Cards, birth certificates, and school certificates for verification. So far, documents for two children have been received, and one child has already been reunited with their parents after successful verification. 'Guardians are approaching us with documents. We will verify those to ascertain parentage. So far we have received documents for two kids and one of them has already been handed back to the parents,' Saini stated. The initiation of DNA testing follows the establishment of a committee by deputy commissioner Himanshu Jain on Tuesday. This committee, comprising the district child protection officer and representatives from the police commissioner and civil surgeon, was formed to ensure the seamless execution of DNA testing under Project Jeevanjot 2.0, an initiative designed to combat child trafficking and exploitation. This move came after an earlier attempt at DNA testing on Monday faced obstacles due to a lack of clear guidelines. The district administration rescued the 18 children during city-wide raids aimed at cracking down on child trafficking. Currently, all rescued children are being housed at the Children Home in Doraha. Project JeevanJyot 2.0 outlines a clear path forward: 'If DNA tests match, the child shall be restored to the family. The authorities shall issue a warning to the family to not indulge the child into begging. The DCPO shall provide counselling to the family to enroll the children in schools and about the ill effects of keeping the child on streets.' Should parents persist in involving the child in begging, the draft states they will be declared 'unfit guardians,' and 'The child shall be sent to Children Home and the child shall be declared legally free for adoption.' Conversely, if DNA test results are negative, the Child Welfare Committee will initiate legal action by filing an FIR under relevant legislation such as the BNS, Juvenile Justice Act, Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, or Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, against the adults found accompanying them. Additionally, the child's photos and details will be uploaded on the 'Track the Child' portal to aid in tracing their biological parents for rehabilitation.
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Begging for answers: DNA seeks missing link in Ludhiana.
Ludhiana: In a major step to combat child trafficking and forced begging, the health department collected DNA samples from six rescued children at the civil hospital on Wednesday in the presence of the district child protection officer (DCPO) and police personnel as part of Project Jeevanjot 2.0. The move comes two days after the district administration faced a setback when hospital staff refused to take DNA samples, citing a lack of official guidelines. In response, deputy commissioner Sakshi Sawhney constituted a high-level committee comprising the DCPO, civil surgeon, and representatives from the police commissioner to oversee the testing process. DCPO Rashmi Saini said the six children were accompanied by adults who claimed to be their parents but had failed to produce any valid documents such as Aadhaar cards or birth certificates. Consent for the DNA testing was reportedly taken from the adults present. However, the process raised ethical questions within the health department, with one official noting the unusual nature of taking consent from individuals who may be implicated in trafficking if the DNA results prove otherwise. The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) chairman, Gurjit Singh Romana, confirmed that the testing had been carried out under the committee's direction. He said legal action would be initiated if biological links between the children and the adults could not be confirmed. Of the 18 children rescued from the streets of Ludhiana, only one child's biological relationship was verified through documentation, while 11 remain unclaimed, and efforts to establish their identities continue. Any adult found to be claiming parental ties falsely may face legal charges under a range of laws, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Juvenile Justice Act, Child Labour Act, and Bonded Labour Abolition Act. The photos and profiles of unidentified children will also be uploaded to the Track the Child Portal to help locate their real families. Each child will have an individual case file compiled by the DCPO, detailing everything from DNA test records and social investigation reports to any benefits provided and information about the accompanying adult. The administration said the children have been relocated to safe temporary shelters while verification is underway. MSID:: 122863372 413 |
