L-G directs police to crack down on gangs forcing children to beg
NEW DELHI: Delhi lieutenant-governor (L-G) Anil Baijal on Thursday directed the Delhi Police and government authorities to take steps to discourage begging in the national capital and also identify organised gangs that force children and adults into begging.
The directions came during a meeting that the L-G chaired to review measures taken by police’s anti-human trafficking unit in cases of missing children. The meeting was attended by the Delhi government’s top bureaucrats, including chief secretary Anshu Prakash, Delhi Police commissioner Amulya Patnaik and other senior police officers.
Baijal also asked police to analyse statistics of children yet to be traced and thoroughly investi- gate such cases.
Police statistics show this year, until April 30, 2,096 children went missing, while only 1,102 were traced. Of the total missing children, 1,359 are girls. In 2017, 6,454 children went missing and only 4,391 were traced.
“The Delhi Police should also visit families of children included in the “Pehchaan Scheme” and “Operation Milap” to instil a sense of security among parents,” the L-G office said.
In the meeting, special commissioner of police (crime) Satish Golcha apprised the L-G that they have taken several steps to combat human trafficking.
A police officer, on condition of anonymity, said there is no organised syndicate in the city that force children into begging. “Regular meetings with police officers are held to take measures to ensure that no such organised gang is active,” the officer said.
Officials in the Delhi government’s social welfare department said, since begging has been decriminalised, the department will convert the beggar home in Lampur to a vocational training centre along with recreational activities.