Chandigarh: Reaffirming the Punjab Government’s unwavering commitment to protecting the rights and future of every child, Punjab’s Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, Dr. Baljit Kaur, today said that the State has further intensified its campaign against child begging under Project Jeevanjyot, with focused efforts to rescue children from the streets, rehabilitate them and reconnect them with education and a life of dignity.
Dr. Baljit Kaur said that under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is working tirelessly to ensure that no child is deprived of a safe childhood or forced into begging.
Sharing details of the intensified campaign carried out over the past few days, Dr. Baljit Kaur informed that the Department conducted 82 special rescue operations across 195 identified hotspots throughout the State.
The Minister said that after due verification of documents and family credentials, 27 children were reunited with their parents on the spot, while the remaining 12 children have been placed in Child Care Institutions. These children will be restored to their families only after proper verification of their relationship, ensuring that the safety and best interests of every child remain paramount.
Appealing to the people of Punjab to become partners in this humanitarian mission, Dr. Baljit Kaur urged citizens to immediately report any child found begging or any child in need of care and protection to the District Child Protection Unit, the Child Welfare Committee, or the Child Helpline 1098.
