This article was first published 18 years ago

Kerala capital made free of child beggars

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January 29, 2007 12:55 IST

Capping a yearlong campaign by the government and voluntary organisations, Thiruvananthapuram has been declared Kerala's first city free of child beggars.

Making the declaration at a function in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday evening, state Health Minister P K Sreemathy said what was more important was to ensure that the rehabilitated children were taken proper care of by agencies by providing them food, shelter and education.

The government planned to set up child helplines in four districts immediately and take the campaign to other major cities in the state, she said.

Kerala high court Judge Justice R Basanth, who was present, said it was the causes contributing to child beggary that should be rooted out.

Since the campaign started last year, 115 children had been saved from beggary and rehabilitated with the help of NGOs involved in the programme.

A majority of these children hail from outside states and inquiries had found them to be forced into begging by inter-state rackets.

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