‘Bhikhya ton Sikhya Tak’ to take child beggars to schools

Ludhiana, July 6

With an aim to get child beggars off streets and to help them with mainstream education and vocational skills, the district administration on Saturday initiated “Bhikhya ton Sikhya Tak” programme in the district.

Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney held a meeting with members of NGOs and officials of government departments to discuss the programme.

The aim was to chalk out a road map to resolve the issue of child begging, get those children off streets and to educate them or enhance their vocational skills/ talent.

Members of different NGOs, including Jeet Foundation, Initiators of Change, Switch for Change, Helping Hands and City Needs, among others, participated in the meeting.

District development fellow (DDF) Amber Bandopadhyay, district child protection officer (DCPO) Rashmi Saini, Red Cross Society secretary Navneet Joshi were among officials who were present in the meeting. They deliberated upon steps which can be taken under the project.

The officials said the aim was to bring children out of the practice of begging, get them off streets and enrol them in schools to connect them with mainstream society. They emphasised upon the need to find root causes of the menace and to chalk out an effective strategy.

The DC said the meeting was held to bring the NGOs and government departments to a single platform so that collective efforts could be made to achieve the target of ‘Bhikhya Ton Sikhya Tak’ initiative.

“Positive discussions were held and suggestions were also given by members of the NGOs. The administration is now working to chalk out a road map for the better future of children involved in begging,” she added.