Fatehgarh Sahib, April 26, 2017: A team of child protection department today took into custody four children from outside historical Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib indulging in begging. Three male children were sent to Children home Patiala, while the girl beggar was sent to Puran Bal Niketan Patiala.
Harbhajan Singh Mehmi, District Child Protection Officer said that the team of department consisting social workers and other officers had been regularly checking the menace of child labour and child begging in the district. He said all these four children were earlier also warned not to undertake begging and their parents were also called and they were let off after warning. He said but these children continue to beg outside Gurudwara Sahib and making great nuisance to the devotees. He said that today the team took four of them in custody and sent them to children home. The said rest of the children ran away.
Gulshan Rai Bobby Chairman of district child protection committee said that it is unfortunate that lot of children belonging to BPL families are engaged by contractors and deputed outside religious and tourist places for begging and the amount collected by them is taken in evening and they are paid a small amount.
He said now in the Children home it will be ensured that they start studying and live a life like normal children.