Bhubaneswar: The Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) has directed district administrations across Odisha to take immediate and coordinated action to eradicate the practice of child begging.
In an official directive, the Commission instructed key officials—including police authorities, municipal commissioners and district child protection officers—to intensify efforts to identify, rescue and rehabilitate children found begging in public places.
OSCPCR emphasised that forcing or allowing children to beg constitutes a violation of child rights and is prohibited under provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. The Commission stated that children engaged in begging are often victims of exploitation and require immediate protection and rehabilitation.
To strengthen enforcement, district administrations have been asked to form district-level task forces comprising officials from the police department, municipal bodies, child protection units and social welfare departments. These teams will coordinate rescue operations and ensure that affected children are provided with appropriate care, shelter, counselling and education.
The Commission has also stressed the importance of public awareness campaigns to discourage people from giving money to children begging on the streets, as such acts often perpetuate exploitation networks.
Officials said the initiative aims to ensure that vulnerable children are removed from unsafe environments and given access to rehabilitation programmes that support their education, health and overall development.
-OdishaAge
