Special drive against begging at streets by Police and NGO rescued 43 persons

Dr B Thomas (Special correspondent)

The city police in association with the department of women and child welfare and members of Non Governmental Organizations launched special drive against begging and rescued 43 persons including 15 women and 28 minor children including equal number of boys and girls found begging at the traffic junction.

The driver with an aim to contain the growing begging menace was launched from 10 am to 6 am across the major junctions of the city limits.

The rescued women and children have been handed over to Child welfare committees for further action,a senior police officer,said.

The driver was conducted following a series of complaints from the members of general public about the begging which is not only disrupting the traffic but also causing nuisance at the junctions.

As many as 39 teams comprising of the police officials of the women and child welfare department and NGOs have been formed and dispatched to the major junctions across the city.

Jurisdictional ACPs have been deputed as nodal officer to monitor and supervise the drive .

It may be recalled that similar drive was launched in February and October last year where as many as 1000 people including women and children found begging at the junctions were rescued and handed over to CWCs.

Former Additional Commissioner of Police,P Harishekaran led one of the biggest drive under the name ‘Operation Smile’,a central government initiative against begging and to trace missing children in 2016 .