In a determined effort to eradicate child begging and combat child trafficking in Ludhiana, Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain personally led a raid under Project Jeevanjot-2 on Monday night in various locations of the city. The initiative, launched by the Punjab Government, aims to verify familial relationships through DNA testing to curb exploitation and ensure child welfare.
During the raid, a team identified four children engaged in begging near a temple. After thorough verification, it was confirmed that the children were accompanied by their parents and were also attending school. The Deputy Commissioner issued a stern warning to the parents, directing them to refrain from involving their children in begging, with a clear message that strict legal action would be taken for any future violations.
"Project Jeevanjot-2 is a transformative step towards making the state beggar-free and protecting our children from exploitation," said DC Himanshu Jain and added that the administration is committed to ensuring no child is forced into begging, and will take decisive action against those violating child rights.
He reiterated the administration’s zero-tolerance policy towards child exploitation, urging citizens to report suspicious cases to the administration. The operation was supported by the District Child Protection Unit, and representatives from NGOs, including Childline and Bachpan Bachao Andolan.