Hoshiarpur: Under the directions of Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal, the District Level Task Force conducted raids at various places in the district to eradicate the problem of child begging. Under this campaign, the District Child Protection Unit appealed to shopkeepers and the general public at Mahilpur Adda, Shimla Pahari, Chandigarh Road and Dushihara Ground not to give alms to small children and instead of giving alms to children, they were told to connect them with education.
 On this occasion, while making the general public aware, the staff present from the District Child Protection Unit, Education Department and Anti-Human Trafficking Unit informed the people about the ill effects of child begging. The general public was made aware that making children below the age of 18 beg is a legal offence. 
District Child Protection Officer Harpreet Kaur said that to end child begging, parents of begging children should also be counseled so that they send their children to schools instead of begging. She also informed about the sponsorship scheme being run by the government for needy children, under which financial assistance of Rs. 4000 is given to needy and helpless children for their education. 
She appealed that if any child below the age of 18 is seen begging, then information regarding this should be given to the District Child Protection Unit, Ram Colony Camp, Chandigarh Road, Hoshiarpur or to the Child Help Line number 1098. She said that this campaign has been run in collaboration with the District Child Protection Unit, Education Department and Anti-Human Trafficking Unit.