Bhubaneswar: The Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) has instructed district administrations across the state to take urgent and coordinated steps to eliminate child begging and ensure protection and rehabilitation for vulnerable children.
According to official sources, the Commission issued a letter on March 11 directing the Inspector General of Police of the Investigative Units for Crime against Women (IUCAW), Municipal Commissioners, District Collectors and Magistrates, Superintendents of Police, Executive Officers of Municipalities and Urban Local Bodies, District Labour Officers and District Child Protection Officers to initiate immediate action to end the practice.
The Commission noted that it has recently observed several instances of children begging on streets, traffic intersections and other public places in different districts of the state. Such situations, it said, expose children to multiple risks including exploitation, trafficking, abuse, road accidents and denial of basic rights such as education, protection, nutrition and a dignified childhood.
OSCPCR pointed out that child begging is a serious violation of child rights and is prohibited under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 and other laws meant for child protection.
The Commission directed officials to identify children engaged in begging as Children in Need of Care and Protection and ensure that they are rescued and rehabilitated through proper legal procedures. It also called for the formation of district-level task forces to plan, coordinate and supervise actions aimed at eliminating child begging and ensuring the rescue and rehabilitation of affected children.
These district task forces will function under the leadership of the District Collector and will include the Superintendent of Police, Municipal Commissioner or Executive Officer of Urban Local Bodies, District Child Protection Officers, District Labour Officers, representatives of Special Juvenile Police Units, officials from the Women and Child Development Department and representatives from organisations working for child protection.
District administrations have also been asked to conduct regular joint rescue operations in areas where children are often found begging, including traffic junctions, markets, streets, bus stands, railway stations and other public places.
The Commission has further directed that rescued children must be produced before the Child Welfare Committee for appropriate orders under the Juvenile Justice Act. Children requiring care should be placed in suitable child care institutions and provided with education, counselling, healthcare, nutrition and other rehabilitation services as mandated under the law.
Authorities have also been asked to take strict legal action against individuals or groups who force or exploit children for begging, including filing cases under relevant legal provisions.
Municipal bodies and district administrations have also been instructed to organise awareness campaigns to discourage the public from encouraging child begging and to promote reporting of such incidents to the authorities or the child helpline.
The Commission has asked district administrations to submit a monthly compliance report to OSCPCR detailing the actions taken along with a comprehensive database of rescued and rehabilitated children.
