Nawanshahr: As per the instructions received from Director Women and Child Development Department Punjab, Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Dhiman has launched a campaign against child begging in the district to implement 'Project Jeevan Jot'. Accordingly, under the leadership of District Program Officer Jagroop Singh and District Child Protection Officer Kanchan Arora, checking was done against child begging on Chandigarh Road, Banga Road and Railway Road in Nawanshahr and during the checking, five children below the age of 18 years were rescued by the team.
After rescuing the children, they were presented before the Child Welfare Committee, so that further action could be taken to ensure the safety of the children. On this occasion, the District Child Protection Officer told the shopkeepers and the general public that making children below the age of 18 years beg is a legal offense.
To eradicate child begging from the root, their parents should be counseled instead of giving money to the begging children. So that they send their children to study in schools instead of begging.
On this occasion, Child Protection Officer Rajinder Kaur also gave information about the sponsorship scheme being run by the government for needy children. Under which financial assistance of Rs 4000 per month is given for educating needy and destitute children.
She appealed that if any person sees a child below 18 years of age begging, then it should be informed to District Child Protection Unit, Room No. 413, 3rd Floor, DC Office or Child Helpline Number 1098.
The checking team included Rupinder Singh from Health Department, Child Protection Officer Rajinder Kaur and Santosh DEO, Bimla Devi from CDPO Office, Parwinder Kumar, Renu and Monica Rani from Police Department and Sukhwinder Singh from Education Department.