Child beggars are becoming a nuisance for motorists and pedestrians in Dehradun. Child beggars are mostly seen in the crowded places in city like Astley Hall, Dasrshan lal Chowk, Prince Chowk, ISBT, Railway Station.
Aasra (NGO) is working for the welfare of these children for more then three years in the city. Child welfare committee was established to help these kids but yet to see phenomenal progress in Dehradun.
President of child welfare society Aditi said that the main reason behind increasing rates of child beggars in the city is easy way of making money. For their betterment we are working with Aasra, an NGO, for street children, where we provide shelter, education and vocational training to these kids.
A session with child psychologist was also conducted for such children and their parents to know for know the actual reason for begging. People are prefer to pay them so they are coming in large number.
She appealed that people should stop giving money to these kids as they spend money in wrong things such as drugs and alcohol. Most of the child beggars come from sapera basti, ISBT, and chunna bhatta and most of them are school dropouts. It’s an appeal to general public that please stop giving money to these children as it is encouraging these kids for begging, try to help them out and if possible give food to them instead of money, she added.
Dr. Pratibha Sharma child Psychologist also a member of child welfare society said that she daily deals with at least two children involve in begging, and most of them are from poor or distorted families.
She also said that on the basis of information generated by children helpline we deal with particular children and after asking some questions about their family from kids, Children are said to draw any figure with the help of which their mental status could find out and after the whole assessment counseling of children and their parents started.
Sargam Mehra former coordinator of ‘Street Smart’ a project under Aasra for street children said that they work for the street children who are engaged in various unnatural activities.