Of the 31 children identified during the weekend drive, four were handed over to their parents on the spot by the Child Welfare Committee.

Punjab Child Welfare: Minister Baljit Kaur Announces Rescue of 31 Children in Special Drive 

During a special two-day statewide drive, at least 31 children were rescued in Punjab. According to a report, Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr Baljit Kaur announced on Sunday that the operation targeted various hotspots across all districts to identify children forced into begging.

Of the 31 children identified during the weekend drive, four were handed over to their parents on the spot by the Child Welfare Committee, while the remaining 27 were shifted to childcare homes for protection and verification. 

Minister Kaur highlighted that under Project Jiwanjyot 2.0, the state has rescued a total of 1,023 children so far.

The initiative is focused on long-term rehabilitation. The minister stated that 349 rescued children have already been enrolled in schools, while 38 have been linked with the sponsorship scheme. Furthermore, 13 children have been enrolled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme for healthcare, and nine have been admitted to Anganwadi centres for nutritional support. 

Dr Kaur emphasised that the department is working to ensure these children are integrated into the mainstream through education and social security benefits. The drive continues as part of the government’s commitment to providing a dignified life and a secure future.

Source: Times of India