Lok Sabha Question No. 1466 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-11
Subject: Child Beggars
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Parvesh Sahib Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1466 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2020

## CHILD BEGGARS

## 1466. SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH VERMA:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the numbers of child beggars in Delhi with the details of the gender ratio of the child beggars; along

- (b) the steps taken by the Government to reintegrate and rehabilitate the child beggars in Delhi: and
- (c) the budget allocated by the Government for social development of child beggars?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)

(a) As per Census 2011. the total number of child beggars  vagrants etc who were below 15 years of age in Delhi was 290 of which 152 were and 138 were girls. boys

(b) : As per entry No: 9 of State List in the Zth Schedule of the Constitution of India; the subject matter of "Relief of the disabled and unemployable" is a State subject. are responsible for necessary preventive and rehabilitative Steps to eradicate beggary. taking are implementing the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act; 2015 and in the said Act; a separate chapter has been added in which a stringent penalty shall be imposed on whoever employs uses any child for the purpose of begging or causes child to The primary responsibility of execution of the Act lies with the States/UTs The Act provides a security net of service  delivery structures ineluding measures   for  institutional and  non-institutional care to ensure comprehensive well of children in distress situations. Ministry of Women and Child Development is also implementing a centrally sponsored Child Protection Service (CPS) Scheme for supporting the children in difficult circumstance. The primary responsibility of implementation of' the Scheme   lies with the State/UT Administrations: Under the scheme institutional care is provided through as a rehabilitative measure. The programmes   and access to vocational recreation   health care, counseling etc. Under the non-institutional care component support is extended for adoption, foster care and sponsorship. they beg: any being training

The Department of Women & Child Development; Govt: of NCT of Delhi has informed that Department of Women & Child Development is the Nodal Department for Implementation of Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act. 2015 & Model Rules; 2016 thereunder: The Child Beggars are covered under the category 0f children in need of care and protection as per Juvenile Justice Act.

Whenever child found begging is produced by the Police or Childline or NGO or any other person. the same is produced before the Child Welfare Committee in the concerned District under the provisions Of the Juvenile Justice Act; 2015. The concerned Child setup

Welfare Committee takes decision in the best interest of the child keeping in view of his/her socioeconomic circumstances the Competent Authority. If required such children are also housed in the Child Care Institutions by the Department of Women and Child are provided with all basie requirements of boarding. lodging  psychological and mental care, formal and non-formal education with efforts made to mainstream them into the society. This is a continuous process to elevate the conditions of the child beggars and to mainstream them into the society being setup they along

(c): No separate budget allocation for Social  development of Child beggars is made by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment: However. during FY 2019-20. an allocation of Rs. 25 Cr: has been made for Integrated Programme for Rehabilitation of' Beggars.