A meeting was organised focusing on prevention of begging, particularly child begging, with participation of representatives from non-government organisations (NGOs) at Collectorate Meeting Hall. Collector Deepak Saxena chaired a meeting while Additional Collector Misha Singh, District Programme Officer of Women and Child Development Department, Secretary of Red Cross, Chairman and members of the Child Welfare Committee, and representatives from various NGOs were present. During the meeting, the district administration provided information about ongoing campaign to curb child begging.

 

Collector Saxena instructed the representatives to create awareness among public about not giving cash to beggar children, but instead offering them food or goods. He also emphasised the need to identify shopkeepers who sell intoxicating substances to children and revoke their licenses. Further, it was directed that donations made by the public should be collected through the Red Cross or other eligible NGOs. Collector Saxena also instructed the Women and Child Development Department to set up open shelter homes to provide appropriate arrangements for children in need. Collector informed about importance of greater participation from NGOs in the anti-begging campaign and encouraged them to adopt busy intersections in their respective areas. NGOs were asked to organise awareness programmes at these locations to educate the public about not giving alms to children and the negative impacts of child begging. Besides this, officials from Women and Child Development Department were directed to create social media pages to spread awareness about the issue and to promote anti-begging messages. This initiative aims to involve the community and various organisations in curbing child begging and ensuring better protection and care for vulnerable children.