In a significant push for child welfare and education, the Dehradun district administration has successfully enrolled another 27 children, who were previously engaged in begging, into formal schools over the past weekend. This latest effort brings the total number of such children enrolled into the education system this year to an impressive 154.
Rescue and Rehabilitation: A Sustained Campaign
The weekend's enrolments are part of a broader, ongoing campaign by the district authorities. So far in 2024, the administration has rescued 267 children found in distressing circumstances, including begging, child labour, and rag-picking. The rehabilitation of these children is systematically carried out through the Intensive Care Centre (ICC), a facility launched earlier this year specifically for this purpose.
Of the latest batch of 27 children, whose ages range from eight to 17 years, 10 have been admitted to Primary School Parade Ground and 17 to Sadhu Ram Inter College. They join 127 other children who were enrolled in schools earlier this year through the same initiative.
Bringing Children into the Mainstream
District Magistrate Savin Bansal emphasized the core objective of the drive. He stated that many families remain excluded from mainstream society for various reasons, and continuous efforts are essential to bring their children into the education fold. "Whatever the circumstances, our goal should be to ensure that children complete their education, as it is a powerful tool," Bansal remarked.
The breakdown of the 267 rescued children highlights the scale of the challenge:
- 83 children were found begging.
- 117 children were engaged in rag-picking.
- 67 children were involved in child labour.
Holistic Care at the Intensive Care Centre
Following their rescue, children are provided temporary shelter at the ICC. Here, they undergo a structured process of counselling and rehabilitation before being reunited with their families. The centre offers a holistic environment designed for their overall development, which includes:
- Computer education
- Music and recreational activities
- Sports and physical exercise
- Transportation facilities
Chief Development Officer Abhinav Shah reiterated that the prevention of child begging is a key priority for the district administration. "Premium facilities are being provided to the children, and the administration is always ready to extend support," he said. He also added that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been prepared to streamline the operations of the ICC and the broader campaign against child begging.
Officials acknowledged that while progress is steady, complete saturation of the initiative has not yet been achieved, and the campaign will continue with sustained efforts to identify, rescue, and rehabilitate every vulnerable child in the district.
