Mysore/Mysuru: Begging is one of the most serious social issues and it is a well-organised mafia nexus that uses little children and their innocence as a tool to run its business. Children are kidnapped, drugged, beaten and forced to do beggary at traffic signals, main roads and junctions.

In an effort to put an end to this menace, City Police Commissioner Dr. Chandragupta and DCP (Crime & Traffic) M.S. Geetha Prasanna have asked their teams to conduct awareness programmes in those areas where begging is rampant.

The teams later identified Yellamma Colony and Saibaba Colony under Mandi Police Station from where most of the beggars come to the city areas. As part of the campaign, Devaraja ACP M.N. Shashidhar recently conducted a meeting with the residents of Yellamma Colony & Saibaba Colony. Representatives from Women’s Police Station, Anti-Human Trafficking Wing and Children’s Special Unit Police attended the meeting.

Residents were sensitised on combating the problem of child beggary in city and the need to intimate Child Helpline 1098 after coming across such kids. Residents were told that there is a need for community responsibility to eradicate the problem. The mafia behind running child begging rackets will be dealt with and there is an organised ‘syndicate’ behind the mafia. There are laws or Govt. schemes for rehabilitation of children who often go back to begging once rescued. They were made aware of different schemes that are available at grassroots level to prevent begging.

The colony residents were exhorted not to send women and children from their localities for begging. Police will rescue such children and Child Welfare Committee will take necessary steps to ensure safety of the rescued children, Police said.

Women’s Police Inspector Aruna Kumari, Arundhati and Apekshitha from District Child Rescue Unit, Shankar from Block Education Office, Mysuru North, Anganwadi Supervisor Sumithra, Destitute Home Warden Shivakumar, Childline-1098 Co-ordinator Shashikumar and Prasannakumar from Children’s Special Unit Police were present.