CHANDIGARH: In a decisive move to combat child trafficking and the exploitation of children for begging, the Punjab government has directed all Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to conduct DNA tests on children found begging with adults on the streets to verify their relationship, officials said on Thursday.
The directive was issued by Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Baljit Kaur.
Under the order, if a child is seen begging with an adult, a DNA test will be conducted to confirm if they are related. Until the results are available, the child will be placed in a child care institution under the supervision of the district’s Child Welfare Committee.
Strict legal action will be taken if the DNA test reveals that the adult is not related to the child.
The instructions, issued through the Directorate of Social Security (Women and Child Development), fall under the state’s Jeewanjyot-2 project. Officials said district Child Welfare Committees would identify cases where a child appears to be begging with a suspicious adult and refer them to the Deputy Commissioner for further investigation and DNA testing.
Last month, Minister Kaur had instructed all DCs to declare their districts ‘beggar-free’ and ensure consistent monitoring of public areas.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting children, stating that Punjab is adopting a sensitive yet firm approach to eradicate child begging.
Kaur also announced plans to amend the Punjab Prevention of Beggary Act (1971), introducing stricter penalties for racketeers, guardians, or parents who force children to beg at traffic signals and other public places.
