82 Special Rescue Drives Conducted Across 195 Hotspots to Restore Childhood, Dignity and Hope
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Government Committed to Ensuring Every Child Grows Up Safe, Educated and Free from Exploitation; Public Urged to Report Cases on Child Helpline 1098
Chandigarh, September 8:
Reaffirming the Punjab Government’s unwavering commitment to protecting the rights and future of every child, Punjab’s Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, Dr. Baljit Kaur, today said that the State has further intensified its campaign against child begging under Project Jeevanjyot, with focused efforts to rescue children from the streets, rehabilitate them and reconnect them with education and a life of dignity.
Dr. Baljit Kaur said that under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is working tirelessly to ensure that no child is deprived of a safe childhood or forced into begging. She said Project Jeevanjyot is being implemented effectively through District-Level Task Forces to rescue vulnerable children, protect them from exploitation and provide them with opportunities for care, education and holistic development.
Sharing details of the intensified campaign carried out over the past few days, Dr. Baljit Kaur informed that the Department conducted 82 special rescue operations across 195 identified hotspots throughout the State. The operations led to the rescue of 39 children, all of whom were produced before the respective Child Welfare Committees for appropriate care, protection and rehabilitation.
The Minister said that after due verification of documents and family credentials, 27 children were reunited with their parents on the spot, while the remaining 12 children have been placed in Child Care Institutions. These children will be restored to their families only after proper verification of their relationship, ensuring that the safety and best interests of every child remain paramount.
Highlighting the Government’s rehabilitation-focused approach, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that efforts are already underway to integrate the rescued children into the mainstream. Admission formalities have been initiated for six children in schools, while another six children are being enrolled in Anganwadi Centres to ensure access to early childhood care, nutrition and quality education.
She further informed that the highest number of rescued children during the campaign were from Tarn Taran (10), followed by Amritsar (9), Ludhiana (7) and S.A.S. Nagar (5).
Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government firmly believes that every child belongs in a classroom and a caring family environment—not on the streets. She reiterated that the Government will continue to strengthen rescue, rehabilitation and educational interventions until child begging is eradicated from the State.
Appealing to the people of Punjab to become partners in this humanitarian mission, Dr. Baljit Kaur urged citizens to immediately report any child found begging or any child in need of care and protection to the District Child Protection Unit, the Child Welfare Committee, or the Child Helpline 1098.
She said that every timely intervention can save a child from exploitation, restore hope and open the doors to a brighter future. Together, we can ensure that every child enjoys the childhood they rightfully deserve.
