In a decisive move to rid the state capital's streets of child begging, a joint enforcement team rescued 20 children and four women during swift raids conducted across seven locations in Patna on Friday. The operation follows strict directives issued by District Magistrate Dr Thyagarajan SM to curb the exploitation of minors for begging.
Key Locations Of The Raid
The joint team, comprising officials from the District Child Protection Unit, Child Helpline and the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, targeted high-traffic zones including:
- Dak Bunglow Chowraha
- Exhibition Road Chowraha
- Buddha Smriti Park
- ISKCON Temple (Kotwali Police Station area)
- Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park (Zoo)
- Panchmukhi Hanuman Temple, Rajvanshi Nagar (Shastrinagar Police Station area)
Rescue And Rehabilitation Details
The team rescued 20 children, all under the age of 18, whose physical, mental and social development was being compromised by forced begging.
Shelter Allocation: Following orders from the Child Welfare Committee, seven girls were moved to the Vrihad Balika Aashray Grih-1 (Large Shelter Home for Girls) in Bihta, while six boys were placed in the Vrihad Aashray Grih Balak Ikai-1 in Bihta. These facilities provide accommodation, food, medical care, and skill training.
Mothers Detained: Four women, found begging under the guise of maternal care with seven young children, were placed in Shanti Kutir, Patna. This facility operates under the Social Welfare Department’s Mukhyamantri Bhiksha Nivaran Yojana (Chief Minister's Beggary Eradication Scheme).
Origins Of The Children
Shailendra Kumar Chaudhary, Assistant Director of the District Child Protection Unit, revealed that the rescued children hail from various regions, including Sonbhadra district in Uttar Pradesh and Nalanda district in Bihar. He noted that no organised gang involvement has surfaced so far.
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Administration’s Stance
DM Dr Thyagarajan SM announced that this was not a one-off event. To effectively curb child begging and trafficking, similar rehabilitation campaigns will now be conducted every 15 days.
Assistant Director of District Child Protection Unit Shailendra Kumar Chaudhary said,"The Social Welfare Department operates homes that provide free accommodation, education, and training for lost or abandoned children up to age 18. Children are kept in a safe environment until they turn 18 or are reunited with their families."
The Enforcement Team
The operation was led by Shailendra Kumar Chaudhary and included key officials such as DSP Rehmat Ali (Nodal Officer, Special Juvenile Police Unit), Indra Kumari (Anti-Human Trafficking Unit), Prabhakar Ranjan (Child Protection Officer) and Neha Singh (Coordinator, Child Helpline).
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