CAB crackdown on child begging in Kochi

Childline to conduct at least two special drives every month

The district Childline Advisory Board (CAB) has decided to crack the whip on child begging by conducting at least two special drives every month.

The decision comes in the wake of rising child begging cases since the pandemic. Three children, including a toddler, found used for begging by their sister were rescued by the Childline authorities from the Edappally metro station recently. The action was undertaken on the direction of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and the children, originally from Rajasthan, were moved to a shelter home.

“That operation had an almost immediate impact as the number of child begging cases dropped dramatically, leaving us with the impression that an organised and interconnected network is involved behind child begging. They seem to have sent the message across to lie low for the moment in the wake of the rescue mission. The hotels frequented and the mode of transport, including metro, used by handlers of child beggars also point to the presence of an organised network,” said Harikrishna S, Ernakulam Centre Coordinator, Childline.