In order to save children from begging racket and to prevent them from coming back into this illegal business, the State police have decided to undertake an intensive campaign in Dehradun. Measures like raising public awareness and even resorting to DNA test to ascertain parentage of children caught begging will be undertaken as part of the campaign. These decisions were taken in a meeting held by the police with members of Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and representatives of non-governmental organisations here on Monday.

Director General of Law and Order, Ashok Kumar said, “Basically we are trying to make our efforts more effective. The issue involves public awareness, level of enforcement by police and other authorities concerned and rehabilitation. Unless we work on these three aspects, the result will be the same. We conduct drives, but they are back to begging. So, the main purpose of this meeting was to ensure how to make our drives more effective.”

He further explained, “A plan for more concentrated campaign in Dehradun is being made. For two months in May and June we will conduct drive and then analyse the results, to see what difference it will make in their lives. We earlier conducted a drive in every district in the months of February and March. However, a high intensity campaign is being conducted in Dehradun in the first phase. The campaign will start from May 1. ”

He added, “To make sure that the adults accompanying children and claiming to be there parents are telling the truth we are going to conduct DNA test of the adult and the child. These adults will be chosen as per the discretion of the police.”

Uttarakhand Police have also decided to conduct special drives on Tuesday, Saturday and on festivals in temples and other places which are generally crowded. Also if a gang or even the parents of the child beggar appear to be forcing the child to beg then strict actions will be taken against them.