The Hindu 13.12.2010
Schemes to help children picked up for begging
Staff Reporter
KOCHI: The Kochi City Police have started many schemes to rehabilitate the children picked up for begging and labour, as part of the State wide drive taken up by the State police against the crime.
During the recent drive, the City Police could spot 17 children in these conditions and they were moved to rehabilitation centres.
The City Police have launched an awareness campaign to garner public support for the drive. Orphanages and other similar lodging points for children are being closely monitored for any abuse of children's rights. Surprise checks are also being done at many places.
Similarly, the City Police have stepped up surveillance at entry points to the city, traffic signals, footpaths, tourist spots, places of worship and pilgrim centres as well as parks in the city to spot instances of children being used for begging.
Discussions would be initiated with Corporation authorities, Social Welfare Department and other official bodies concerned to ensure that rehabilitated children are given proper care and education, said Manoj Abraham, City Police Commissioner.
Most often, these children are not provided any vocational training and in the absence of proper follow-up to the rehabilitation process it is not uncommon to see that these children return to the streets.
The City Police have also been complaining for long about absence of proper rehabilitation facilities for those picked up from the streets.
The City Police have also sought support from the public to fight the social menace of begging. The public can contact the police by calling the Control Room (phone number 100) or the office of the City Special Branch (2385002), said Mr. Abraham.
