A Meaningful Step by the Punjab Government: Operation Jivan Jot 2.0
Begging is a stigma for a civilized society. If we talk about our state of Punjab, in the last few years, there has been a surprising increase in the number of beggars here. If we discuss the reasons for this, the first reason is that Punjab is a prosperous state, and the second is that Punjabis trust others very quickly. Punjabis can be emotionally influenced very easily.
Begging is a stigma for a civilized society. If we talk about our state of Punjab, in the last few years, there has been a surprising increase in the number of beggars here. If we discuss the reasons for this, the first reason is that Punjab is a prosperous state, and the second is that Punjabis trust others very quickly. Punjabis can be emotionally influenced very easily.
The number of gurdwaras here is quite large, where langar (free community kitchen) runs continuously, and everyone easily gets free food. Due to these reasons, the business of begging has flourished so much that today, in every city, town square, near religious places, in hospitals, markets, and near educational institutions, beggars of all age groups can be seen in strange and peculiar attire.
For the past few days, the campaign launched by the Punjab Government called "Operation Jivan Jot 2.0" has been making headlines in newspapers and other media outlets. Begging is, in fact, a nationwide problem. If we talk about statistics, according to the 2011 census, the number of beggars was highest in West Bengal, with Uttar Pradesh coming in second. In Punjab too, the majority of beggars are migrants. This includes men, women, and children of all age groups. According to the Indian legal system, begging is a crime.
However, this practice continues unchecked in every state and has, in today’s time, become an organized business. Some of these beggars are genuinely disabled, while some pretend to be disabled, and some children are deliberately made disabled by those who run this trade on a commercial level. This is the bitter reality of our country and society. Being disabled is neither a divine curse nor a punishment from God. I can give examples of hundreds of people who, despite some disability, have achieved great milestones in life through hard work and struggle.
To find a proper solution to this problem, the Punjab Government has launched a campaign across the state named "Project Jivan Jot 2.0." This is a revolutionary initiative whose main objective is to free child beggars from this vicious cycle by providing education and rehabilitation. For this purpose, a task force has been formed in every district. The head of this task force will be the Deputy Commissioner of the respective district. Apart from them, the Commissioner, Police Superintendent, Civil Surgeon, District Education Officer, and District Labor Officer will also be included.
A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been issued to all districts, which provides clear guidelines for implementing Project Jivan Jot 2.0. The SOP includes instructions to conduct DNA tests to verify the parents of children begging with elderly men and women. This is an effective step to address the issues of child theft, trafficking, and exploitation. Undoubtedly, Project Jivan Jot 2.0 is a commendable effort for a secure and bright future for Punjab’s children.
In the past few months, 367 children have been rescued from various places in Punjab. Out of these, 350 children have been reunited with their families, and 17 children have been sent to childcare homes because no information could be found about their families. So far, 183 children have been enrolled in schools, and 13 young children have been sent to Anganwadi centers. The Punjab Government has devised several other welfare schemes to provide these children with a golden future.
While governments are striving to curb this social evil, every citizen of the country should also contribute to eliminating this scourge. You should fully accept that by giving 5-10 rupees to any beggar, you are not doing them any good; rather, you are creating a class that is a burden on society. In this way, an army of idle and freeloading people is being created. A laborer works all day in the fields or elsewhere, earning 500-600 rupees through hard work.
But these people, most of whom are minors and women, easily collect 2,000-3,000 rupees. The practice of begging gives rise to numerous evils. Let us all prove ourselves as responsible citizens by participating in efforts for their education, skill development, and rehabilitation. The meaningful solution to this problem is not distributing coins at street corners but building an educated India.
-Davinder Kumar
