The Fact News Service
Chandigarh, July 18
The Punjab Government, under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and guided by the progressive thinking of Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, has intensified its efforts to eradicate the menace of child begging from the sacred land of Punjab with the launch of ‘Project Jeevanjot-2.’
Punjab’s Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur stated today that Punjab, a land revered for its gurus, saints, and warriors, cannot allow the shameful practice of child begging to continue unchecked. “When we see small children forced to beg on our streets, it is not just their dignity that suffers, it raises serious questions on our society’s collective conscience and on the honour of Punjab itself,” Dr. Kaur said.
Progress So Far Under Project Jeevanjot (Phase-1) The Punjab Government started this mission in September 2024. Dedicated rescue teams formed district-level committees to identify and rescue children found begging across the state.
In the last 9 months, through 753 rescue operations (raids) across districts, 367 children were successfully rescued. Of these, 350 children were reunited with their families, while 17 children whose parents could not be identified were placed in Child Care Homes (Bal Ghar). 150 rescued children belonged to other states and were safely repatriated to their families.
183 children were admitted to schools, and 13 children under the age of 6 were enrolled in Anganwadi centres for early childhood care. 30 children from extremely poor families were enrolled in the Sponsorship Scheme, receiving ₹4,000 per month to ensure their education continues uninterrupted. 16 children were brought under the State’s pension scheme, receiving ₹1,500 per month.
The Minister said that the AAP government is not just rescuing children but ensuring continuous monitoring. Every three months, district-level child protection teams verify whether these children continue attending school and are not back on the streets.
Despite these efforts, 57 children were found missing again from the schools or homes they were sent to. This raised an alarming question: Are these children truly safe with their families, or have they fallen victim to human trafficking or begging mafias?
Project Jeevanjot-2: Mann Govt’s Major Step to Stop Organized Child Exploitation
To address these concerns, Punjab has now upgraded and intensified its mission under ‘Project Jeevanjot-2’. Under this project, 18 rescue operations were conducted across districts within the last two days, rescuing 41 children. The Punjab government has introduced DNA testing in suspicious cases where it is unclear whether the accompanying adults are the child’s biological parents.
If any adult is found forcing unrelated children to beg, strict action will follow under the law. DNA tests will be conducted with orders from the Deputy Commissioner (DC), and during the 15-20 day report period, the children will remain safely under government protection in Bal Ghar. If DNA reports confirm that the adults are not the biological parents, stringent legal action will be initiated, including charges under anti-trafficking and child protection laws.
Minister Baljit Kaur said that, already, an FIR has been registered in Bathinda where 20 children were rescued from villages suspected of being exploited for begging.
Dr. Kaur emphasized that Punjab is the first state in India to initiate such an integrated, aggressive, and self-conceived program without waiting for any central government directive. ‘Project Jeevanjot-2’ brings together provisions from The Beggary Act, The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, Guidelines of the Supreme Court and High Court and SOPs issued by the Punjab State Child Protection Commission.
Under this project, parents forcing children to beg will face action. They may receive a warning on first offence, but repeated offences will result in them being declared ‘unfit guardians’. Such children will then be placed in adoption pipelines, ensuring their future is protected.
If the culprits are found to be trafficking networks or mafias exploiting children, they will face punishments ranging from 5 years imprisonment to life sentence. In cases of physical abuse or violence, the punishment will not be less than 20 years, warned the Minister.
Under Project Jeevanjot, 17 rescued children were found to be differently-abled and victims of physical abuse. The government has provided them with health insurance coverage and is ensuring their complete medical treatment through health cards.
Mann government’s message is clear, “If anyone forces children to beg in Punjab, they will face the full force of law.” Dr Baljit Kaur added, “Punjab will not tolerate such exploitation of its children. We will rescue every child, punish every culprit, and protect every innocent life.”
