Minister issues orders for rehab of kids begging in Dera Bassi

Following reports of children and their families begging near the Dera Bassi flyover and living in unhygienic conditions, Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Baljit Kaur has issued directions for their immediate rescue and rehabilitation.

The children and their families are living in unsafe and unhygienic open spaces. Baljit Kaur expressed serious concern that these children are vulnerable to exploitation and ensuring their safety is a priority for the government.

The minister has directed officials of the Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development, Child Protection Units and the district administration to immediately launch a special rescue operation in the area. She emphasised that rescued kids must be provided with shelter, food, medical care and access to education.

Baljit Kaur also instructed districts officials across Punjab to treat such cases with utmost seriousness and initiate similar rescue and rehabilitation campaigns for children found begging in their respective regions. She added that the campaign must be conducted in a sustained manner under the “Project Jeevanjyot–2: Save the Childhood”, so that no child in Punjab is forced into begging.