BENGALURU: The Department of Women and Child Development is mulling taking a leaf out of the prisons manual to tackle the menace of child begging. During a debate on child rights in the Council on Monday, Women and Child Development Minister Umashree said they are considering using the guidelines in prisons manual which allows a mother and child to stay together until the child turns six years of age.
The minister’s response came after MLCs across party lines — Ganesh Karnik, Tara Anuradha, Jayamala and Jayamma — raised concerns about child rights and increasing exploitation of children through various practices.
Umashree said, “We can keep the mother and child together in homes. Once the child turns six, we can shift the child to our children’s homes and release the mother.” She said this is likely to be implemented soon.
Curbing begging has become a headache for the police and the department as arrests do not act as a deterrent. In most cases, the minute the child is released back to the parents, he/she gets back on the roads again, she said.