PANAJI
The Department of Women and Child Development (DWCD) on Monday told the High Court of Bombay at Goa that it is trying to get Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds and will launch a state-wide awareness drive to make child protection measures stronger.
The department said it has written to the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Goa CSR Authority, asking for financial help to add to the State’s resources for looking after underprivileged children.
“This Respondent shall call upon such entities to contribute towards the upliftment of underprivileged children through CSR funding,” DWCD Director Jyoti Desai said, replying to a PIL on child begging filed by Advocate Moses Pinto.
She also said a state-wide campaign will begin in July to make people aware of the dangers and illegality of child begging. This drive will be run through Anganwadi centres, police stations ” especially traffic cells ” and local bodies.
“This awareness campaign shall promote widespread participation and strengthen the State’s response mechanism to prevent abuse, neglect, and exploitation of children,” the reply stated.
The DWCD told the Court it has been acting on complaints made through the Child Helpline, and its task force does regular street patrols in big cities. Since 2024, about 19 children found begging have been rescued.
The director also told the Court that when possible, rescued children are sent back to their home area’s Child Welfare Committee (CWC). If not, they are placed in Child Care Institutions in Goa as per CWC orders. These homes give food, clothing, shelter, and education.
The PIL filed last year gave photos showing children used by adult beggars at busy traffic junctions in Panaji, Margao, Mapusa, and Verna-Vasco.
The petition asked for a special task force to stop child exploitation, rescue children, give them temporary shelter, and bring them back into school. It also wants the Court to get regular updates from the State on what it has done.
At the last hearing, following the High Court’s directions, the petitioner’s suggestions focused on using CSR funds for the rescue, care, and reintegration of underprivileged children. After that, the Division Bench of Justice Bharati Dangre and Justice Nivedita Mehta said they expect the Additional Government Advocate to tell the right authorities about these suggestions and to advise the State government on the issue.
