New Delhi
By definition, it can be stated that in a welfare state, the government is responsible for the individual and social welfare of its citizens.
Well, simply put, the welfare state is a way of governing in which the state or an established group of social institutions provides basic economic security for its citizens.
Inclusive government and all-round development also means catering to the welfare of those who stand marginalised.
Child beggars is a social menace and reflects an old 'decay' in the system. The Gujarat government and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel have diagnosed the malady well.
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| These buses have blackboards, tables, chairs, LCD TV |
The general understanding is that the malady is caused by lack of education as well.
In fact, many would agree that the sight of children begging at the traffic signal is considered inherent part of urban life. But it's a menace nevertheless.
Lately, the Gujarat government has taken initiatives to rehabilitate beggars and destitute people.
Well, bureaucrats in the state aware of such initiatives say any government could have done it. But the
specialty in Gujarat is that the regime under Bhupendra Patel along with the judiciary and the State Legal Services
Authority have come to the forefront towards institutionalizing care for such children.
The campaign 'Bhiksha Nahi, Shiksha' attempts to motivate children and their families to choose education over begging.
Initially 10 buses have been put into service and these have been converted into moving class rooms.
The buses have facilities like blackboards, tables, chairs, LCD TV, wifi facilities and drinking water,
These buses are parked at specific places near Signals and offer free education along with mid-day meal.
Normal classroom type classes/educational activities are carried out from 10 am to 1 pm on all working days.
According to official sources, sports and cultural events are also organised and interested children are provided
with guidance for skill training. Periodically the children are also taken to visit/site tours of tourist centres in and around
the townships.
Gradually, these 'signal children' are then would be made well equipped to join formal education system also.
The benefits of institutionalizing the scheme are well appreciated at various quarters. "If this project takes off in
full steam, child begging will become a thing of past in Gujarat," a source said.
In the entire scheme of things, responsibilities have been entrusted with the state government, the Gujarat State Level
Services Authority and Municipal School Board of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.
Officials say the scheme was not launched just suddenly. A proper survey was conducted beginning with Ahmedabad
and Gandhinagar.
Interestingly, initial surveys revealed that in Ahmedabad at major traffic signals, around 150 children between the age group
of 6 and 14 used to indulge in regular begging. In Ahmedabad, circles like Paakwan and Polytechnic areas
had maximum children begging.
Sources say the project was launched on March 6, 2022 outside the Gujarat High Court Auditorium with 10 disabled
Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service.
Chief Minister Patel had inaugurated more than 30 mobile school buses of Signal School project in Ahmedabad.
Justice M R Shah of the Supreme Court was also present.
In June, 139 children were formally enrolled into these Signal Schools.
One official Ashutosh Patel, who was involved in the work from the beginning, recalls: "....Parents of nearly 200 children
were waiting eagerly on the first day to see their children board the bus -- named affectionately Signal School. It's yellow
in colour and is tastefully designed and decorated".
Moreover, he says, "A special attraction is the fact that the buses are decked up with colourful drawings and messages of
good habits in Gujarati".
Each Signal School Bus has one teacher and one assistant teacher.
According one parent of such a child beggar-turned-student, "The Gujarat Government's initiatives have brought
tears in our eyes. Tears of joy !....As parents of these children we are also happy to learn that our children will be covered
under the state government's scheme of medical check ups offered to municipal schools under the School Health
Programme.
Around 700 candidates had appeared for the job as teachers in these Signal Schools and around 20 of them
have been appointed.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel is impressed with the project. "This project will have to be implemented in
other cities across Gujarat. This will also make sure that the poor children are not deprived of education".
"It is our responsibility as citizens towards the society and is a wonderful opportunity to pay back," he said.
P. Madhaviben, one of the selected teachers for the project, told Organiser: "This is no less than a dream job
for me. I always wanted to teach and do something for such children. I often
thought there was shortage of suitable and credible platforms though which I could contribute. Now, I have this
Signal School and I am also part of it".
Inset:
** Section 42 of the Children Act, 1960 says that whoever employs a child for begging or indulges the child into begging or makes him beg will be held liable to imprisonment for a term maximum up to one year or fine or both.
** In July 2021, the Supreme Court had said --- ".....solution to this socio-economic problem is their rehabilitation and
giving them education and employment. This is more needed for the little children who beg at the traffic junctions. We need a humanitarian and sympathetic approach from the states and the Centre".
** Begging is a state subject, and there isn’t a central law on this. Perhaps 20 states have laws that essentially
criminalise begging. Most of the state laws are based on ideas borrowed from the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959.
end
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