Panel chief says to take steps on child beggars

Visakhapatnam, May 1 (UNI) Child Welfare Committee Chairman K Surya Rao today said the committee had decided to initiate steps to prevent begging by children, in the city Addressing a committee meeting here, Mr Rao said using children for begging at traffic intersections and habituating them to narcotics and intoxicants attracted prison terms of up to three years and a fine.

A preliminary assessment put the number of such children at 350 in the city and they suspected the involvement of a racket in the supply of children for begging.

He said a survey would be conducted on the conditions and resources of the ten rehabilitation homes in the city to house the child beggars before embarking on a drive to round up those involved in the racket.

City Additional Police Commissioner P Rama Rao underscored the need for awareness among the police in dealing with cases of abandoned children and assured of all cooperation in preventing the use of children for begging.

UNI