Child Begging

New Delhi, 07 December 2021: As per census data, there has been a decrease in the number of children engaged in begging activity from 1,12,794 in 2001 to 45,296 in 2011.

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated a scheme “SMILE – Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise”, which includes a sub-scheme – ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging’. This scheme covers several comprehensive measures including welfare measures for persons who are engaged in the act of begging. The focus of the scheme is extensively on rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities, counseling, basic documentation, education, skill development, economic linkages and so on. Persons engaged in the act of Begging are to be covered under the scheme.

As per information provided by Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry is implementing a centrally sponsored scheme namely Child Protection Services (CPS) Scheme. The scheme provides financial assistance to the States/UTs on sharing pattern for, inter-alia, undertaking a situational analysis of children in difficult circumstances, for setting up and maintenance of various types of Child Care Institutions (CCIs). Under the scheme institutional care is provided through CCIs, as a rehabilitative measure. In these CCIs, children are provided age appropriate education either within the institution or outside in a formal education system through convergence with other schemes and programs of the Government or civil society. Under the non-institutional care component, support is extended for adoption, foster care and sponsorship.

Further, section 2 (14) (ii) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 provides that a child who is found working in contravention of labour laws for the time being in force or is found begging, or living on the street is included as a “Child in Need of Care and Protection”.

As per the information available on the website of Registrar General of India, State-wise details of number of children (Age up to 14 years) engaged in the act of Begging are attached at Annexure. These figures are based on Census 2011.

Annexure

Annexure referred to in reply to Part (e) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1489 to be answered on 07.12.2021 regarding ‘Child Begging’

This information was given by Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar in the Lok Sabha in a written reply today.