Begging mafia targets children across Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: An organised begging racket is allegedly using children, women, elderly people and persons with disabilities at major traffic signals across Hyderabad, with groups reportedly bringing some of them from other states and setting daily collection targets.
The groups are said to target motorists at busy traffic junctions. According to information cited in the report, children, women and persons with disabilities are brought from other states and trained to beg.
The gangs, which were earlier operating largely outside Telangana, are believed to have shifted their focus to Hyderabad amid reduced enforcement.
Infants used to draw more money from motorists
The racket reportedly prefers infants and young children because women carrying them tend to receive more money from motorists. Children aged below two are said to be particularly sought after.
The groups also allegedly target poor migrant families in the city and take their children for begging. Parents are reportedly paid ₹ 300 to ₹ 400 a day.
Under the alleged arrangement, children are picked up in the morning and returned to their parents in the evening. The report estimates that more than 5,000 children are being used for begging across Hyderabad.
Children allegedly sedated to stop them crying
The report alleges that some children are drugged to prevent them from crying while being carried by women unfamiliar to them.
It says cough and cold syrups are allegedly administered in excessive doses every two or three hours. Sleeping pills and tranquillisers are also allegedly mixed with food or milk.
Children are also allegedly made to inhale substances such as whitener to keep them sedated, putting their lives at risk.
GHMC drive loses momentum after initial crackdown
Last year, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) launched a special drive aimed at making Hyderabad free of begging and shifted hundreds of people found begging to shelter homes.
Begging appeared to decline following the drive. However, the report says the special operation has since lost momentum, allowing groups from other cities to move into Hyderabad.
Hundreds of people are said to have arrived in the city in phases. Many operate at traffic signals, while others are stationed near temples, bus stations, railway stations and major hotels.
Child welfare authorities face questions over response
The report says begging groups predominantly bring children, women and elderly people from other states. It alleges that despite a growing number of children being used for begging, officials of the Women Development and Child Welfare Department, Child Welfare Committee and District Child Protection Unit have not adequately addressed the problem.
Social activists allege that young children should be rescued and shifted to child protection facilities, but such interventions are not taking place on the required scale.
The problem is visible at several major traffic signals across the city, the report says.
Operation Muskaan focuses largely on child labour
Under Operation Muskaan, the Child Welfare Committee, labour department, Women Development and Child Welfare Department, Childline and Anti-Human Trafficking Units conducted special drives in July and rescued 1,413 children, according to the source report.
Of them, 563 were from other states and 22 were from Nepal.
However, there are allegations that the operation focused mainly on child labourers and children living on streets or in other vulnerable locations, while paying less attention to children engaged in begging.
Residents asked to report children found begging
People who find children begging can alert the Child Helpline on toll-free number 1098, the police control room on 100 or the national emergency number 112.
Complaints can also be made to the District Child Protection Unit, the local child welfare office or the nearest police station.
Providing the child’s location, time and details of the people making the child beg can help authorities respond and take steps to rescue the child.
