Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (GA)

Mangalore, Jan 6: In a major decision, Child HelpLine has appealed the people not to give alms to the beggar children for whatever reasons and in any circumstances. One knows that begging has become very common these days.  But another disturbing phenomenon, which is on rise these days, is the involving or using the children for begging.  The parents feel that if they send their children for begging, they could collect more alms since people will feel pity of these children and given them alms.

That is why more and more children are being forced to engage themselves in begging.  While many of them give alms to the children having pity on them, some others give them alms since these children simply cling on them or pursue them on their way.

But the Child Help Line which has been doing yeoman's service to protect and nurture not only the children but their childhood, has requested the public not to encourage these children and thus play a role in nipping their future at the very root.  Moreover, giving alms to the children could even be considered as a crime against the children.

The Child Help Line has chalked out various programmes to nurture the childhood of these and other children who have been neglected by the mainstream of the society.  These decisions were taken during a meeting of the persons involved in similar projects on Wednesday January 4.

Programmes have also been chalked out to monitor, the households and families where minor children are being employed as housemaids and servants.  Moreover, child labour in any form and in any place will be considered seriously and persons encouraging child labour in any form will be penalized.  A meeting of corporators and NGO representatives has been called on Friday January 20 to discuss the matter further.