Fazilka, September 8
In accordance with the directions received from the Director, Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development, Punjab, and under the instructions of Deputy Commissioner Fazilka, Amritpreet Kaur Sandhu, Project Jeevan Jyot 2.0 is being strictly implemented in the district to combat child begging.
Under the guidance of District Programme Officer Fazilka Navdeep Kaur, the District Child Protection Office, Fazilka, in collaboration with the Sub-Divisional Level Team, has been conducting regular checks to completely eradicate child begging. Searches were conducted at various locations in Fazilka, including Gaushala Road, Bus Stand, Ghanta Ghar Chowk, Railway Station Road, Vegetable Market, Shastri Chowk, Nehru Park and the Main Bazaar, to identify children engaged in begging. District Child Protection Officer Ritu Bala was also part of the checking team.
The children found during the operation were approximately one to six years old. In several cases, mothers were seen carrying young children in their arms while begging.
During the checking drive against child begging, District Child Protection Officer Ritu Bala and Child Protection Officers Ranveer Kaur, Kaushal and Ajay Sharma counselled the mothers of the children and presented them before the Child Welfare Committee so that further action could be taken with the safety and welfare of the children in mind.
District Child Protection Officer Ritu Bala said that regular checks against child begging are being conducted under Project Jeevan Jyot 2.0. So far in 2026, a total of 18 children have been removed from begging and linked with education.
During the checking drive, the District Child Protection Unit team informed the general public that children below 18 years of age should not be made to beg or work. If any child is found begging, the District Child Protection Office, Fazilka, should be informed so that the children can be enrolled in school according to their age and provided the benefits of various government schemes.
Employees of the District Child Protection Office also sensitised shopkeepers and the general public. They appealed to citizens to provide any information related to children to the District Child Protection Office, Fazilka, Third Floor, DC Office, Fazilka, or through the Child Helpline number 1098.