With focus on DNA testing, new-avatar Jeevanjyot aims to end child trafficking in Punjab

It was in September last year that the Punjab Government’s Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development, while trying to implement the Punjab Prevention of Beggary Act, 1971, chanced upon organised begging rackets operating in the state.

During a programme launched across Punjab to check and rescue child beggars, the teams found 15 children who had been maimed/body part(s) dismembered by those running these rackets to use these hapless kids for begging.

At that time, as many as 368 children were rescued. Of these, 300 were reunited with their families, parents or legal guardians, and most of them were admitted to schools. But within no time, 50 children were found back on the streets instead of the schools, begging and living in unhygienic conditions. This again reaffirmed the belief that the children were being exploited by organised child traffickers who, at the first instance, had these children doing their bidding. Thus was born the idea of launching the Phase 2 of this rescue operation, Jeevanjyot 2.0, with focus on DNA testing of both children and those claiming guardianship to check child trafficking.

Within a month of being launched, as many as 245 children have been rescued. “Since the children were found back on the streets begging, the government decided that a more comprehensive strategy needed to be adopted to safeguard the interests of these children. In Jeevaniyot 2.0, we are first intensifying raids to rescue these children, trying to prevent their exploitation at the hands of child traffickers by first trying to reunite children with their biological families. A proper Social Investigation Report is prepared for all these rescued children. Since many are from other states, we send the reports to these states and try and locate their families. Till such time, the children are being kept in the 16 state government-run child care institutions or at homes run by NGOs,” said Shena Aggarwal, Director, Department of Social Security.

It is learnt that of the 245 children rescued now, 18 were reunited with their families and 127 are in child care institutions. For cases, where legal guardianship was found to be suspicious, DNA tests have been conducted in 13 cases, whose results are awaited. In cases, where the children are found without legal guardians, these will become children of the state and as per the CARA guidelines, will be given up for adoption.

Officials in the department agree that so far they are working only on rescue and rehabilitation, and are to seek the help of the police to get after those running these child trafficking and begging rackets.