PANAJI
As directed by the High Court of Bombay at Goa, a senior lawyer has suggested several measures to address the issues pertaining to the systemic rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration of underprivileged children forced into street begging, while aligning both with domestic statutory frameworks and international obligations.
Advocate Moses Pinto, in his public interest litigation (PIL) writ petition, had sought government intervention to rescue children engaged in begging and ensure the implementation of child protection laws. He further urged the government to provide temporary shelters, facilitate educational access, and establish a task force to tackle child exploitation in public areas. Additionally, he called for awareness campaigns to educate the public on the issue.
The High Court, while hearing the plea on April 1, had directed the State government to file an affidavit within three weeks detailing its plan to rescue children forced to beg at traffic signals and implement child protection measures under the Juvenile Justice Act and the Bharat Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
In its series of suggestions submitted to the Court, the petitioner has said that the State government may facilitate the creation of a Child Welfare CSR Fund to consolidate CSR contributions from corporates wishing to support child rescue and rehabilitation projects. He said that the Fund may be managed transparently with dedicated utilisation towards rescue drives, shelter creation, education initiatives, and rehabilitation measures for rescued children.
He recommended the establishment of mobile rescue teams, rescue vans, temporary shelter homes, medical screening units, and immediate psychological counselling services. “Bridge education programmes to facilitate mainstream school enrolments under the Right to Education Act, 2009; provision of mid-day meals, uniforms, digital learning devices, and educational materials,” the petitioner told the Court.
The Court, during its last hearing, had stated that since the petitioner claims to be a public-spirited advocate, he should provide his recommendations to address the issue.
“Depending on his suggestions, the Court may ask the government to implement them, if found feasible,” the Court observed.
