The Punjab Government has intensified its crackdown on organised child begging rackets, launching the second phase of its rescue mission, Jeevanjyot 2.0, after alarming findings during earlier operations revealed children were being deliberately maimed for exploitation.
The Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development first stumbled upon these rackets in September last year while implementing the Punjab Prevention of Beggary Act, 1971. During a state-wide campaign to rescue child beggars, 15 children were found with amputated or dismembered body parts, allegedly inflicted by traffickers to maximise earnings from begging. In that phase, 368 children were rescued, 300 reunited with their families, and most admitted to schools. However, within weeks, about 50 returned to street begging, prompting concerns of deeper trafficking networks.
“Since children rescued earlier were found back on the streets, we realised a more comprehensive strategy was needed,” said Shena Aggarwal, Director of the Department. “In Jeevanjyot 2.0, we are intensifying raids, preparing Social Investigation Reports, reuniting children with biological families, and using DNA testing where guardianship claims appear suspicious.”
Within a month of the relaunch, 245 children have been rescued. Of these, 18 have been reunited with families, 127 are in state-run child care institutions, and 13 cases are awaiting DNA test results. Children without verified guardians will become “children of the state” and, under CARA guidelines, will be put up for adoption.
Many of the rescued minors hail from outside Punjab, with efforts underway to coordinate with other states to trace their families. Until then, they are housed in 16 government-run child care centres or NGO homes.
While the focus so far has been on rescue and rehabilitation, department officials confirmed they plan to work with police to dismantle the trafficking and begging rackets behind this exploitation.