States » NorthPosted at: Aug 15 2025 12:38AM


Haryana cracks down on child begging, launches SMILE-backed rescue and rehab drive

Chandigarh, Aug 14 (UNI) The Haryana State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (HSCPCR) has launched a coordinated crackdown on organised child begging rackets, rolling out a rescue and rehabilitation drive under the Union Government’s SMILE scheme (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise).
At a state-level inter-departmental meeting chaired by Additional Chief Secretary, Women and Child Development (WCD), Sudhir Rajpal, senior officials from police, child protection, health, labour, and social welfare departments drew up a three-phase strategy to eliminate child begging and dismantle the rackets behind it.Rajpal stressed that in many cases, child begging is not a symptom of poverty but an organised criminal enterprise. “Children are forced onto the streets by rackets, traffickers, or even relatives for monetary gain. It robs them of education, exposes them to abuse, and traps them in lifelong cycles of vulnerability,” he said.Three-Phase Action PlanPhase 1: Mapping the Problem – District administrations, WCD, and NGOs will jointly identify begging hotspots such as traffic lights, religious sites, and markets; conduct a headcount of child beggars; and identify orphans, abandoned children, and those without family support.Phase 2: Swift Rescue and Protection – District task forces will immediately rescue children in need of shelter. All cases will be presented before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for legal protection, with Social Investigation Reports prepared under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, to guide personalised rehabilitation plans.Phase 3: Long-Term Rehabilitation and Tracking – Authorities will work to prevent re-victimisation and trafficking through regular monitoring of rehabilitated children, ensuring access to education, skills training, and family reintegration wherever possible.The meeting noted that in many urban areas, begging is run by well-structured cartels that exploit children as income sources. The initiative will not only remove children from the streets but also target the networks profiting from their exploitation through police action, intelligence sharing, and sustained follow-up.“Child begging is an exploitation of innocence and a violation of basic human rights. Haryana is committed to breaking this vicious cycle through rescue, rehabilitation, and strict action against those who profit from it,” Rajpal said.A follow-up meeting will be held in 15 days to assess the first rescue operations, review progress, and finalise strategies for scaling the model statewide.DCP Crime and Traffic, Panchkula, Manpreet Singh; Additional Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula, Nisha; and other senior officers attended the meeting.
UNI XC RN
Please log in to get detailed story.
Tags: #Haryana cracks down on child begging# launches SMILE-backed rescue and rehab drive
More News

Kashi's saints outraged by Shankaracharya's statement

11 Mar 2026 | 6:46 PM

Varanasi, March 11 (UNI) Kashi's saints are deeply angered by the alleged remarks made by Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda of Jyotish Peeth against the Ramanandi sect.

see more..

UP: Three killed after bus collides with car in Shahjahanpur

11 Mar 2026 | 6:45 PM

Shahjahanpur/Farrukhabad, March 11 (UNI) Three people died and two others were injured after a bus collided with a car on the Bisalpur–Baber National Highway in Shahjahanpur today.

see more..

Staff nurses in Himachal to get full salary during higher education: CM

11 Mar 2026 | 6:42 PM

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that staff nurses in Himachal Pradesh pursuing higher education would now receive their full salary instead of the earlier 40 per cent, a move aimed at encouraging skill enhancement and strengthening the state’s healthcare system.

see more..

Fuel stocks adequate in Kashmir, no need for panic buying: Divisional Commissioner

11 Mar 2026 | 6:38 PM

Srinagar, Mar 11 (UNI) Amid concerns over the escalating conflict involving the United States–Israel alliance and Iran, which has raised fears about global fuel supply disruptions, the Kashmir administration on Wednesday assured the public that there is no shortage of fuel or cooking gas in the Valley.

see more..

UP emerging as major startup hub with over 20,000 recognised startups

11 Mar 2026 | 6:32 PM

Lucknow: Mar 11 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh is rapidly establishing itself as one of India’s emerging startup hubs. With the help of the state government’s policies, institutional framework and financial incentives, innovation and entrepreneurship in the state have received a significant boost.

see more..