Child Begging in J&K: Social Audit Highlights Policy Gaps and Systemic Failures
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A recent social audit report in Jammu & Kashmir has exposed the growing menace of child begging in urban areas, attributing it to poverty, migration, and weak enforcement of the Juvenile Justice Act. The report calls for urgent administrative intervention to address the exploitation of vulnerable children.
A recent social audit report has brought to light the distressing rise of child begging in the urban landscapes of Jammu & Kashmir. Described as a "blot on society’s conscience," the report underscores a systemic failure in protecting the region's most vulnerable population. While begging is often viewed through the lens of individual poverty, the audit reveals a complex web of migration, organized exploitation, and the collapse of local social safety nets.
The prevalence of children at traffic junctions and commercial hubs in cities like Srinagar and Jammu indicates a significant gap in the implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. Under this Act, children found begging are categorized as "children in need of care and protection" (CNCP). However, the report suggests that the administrative machinery, including District Child Protection Units (DCPUs) and Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), has been unable to keep pace with the scale of the crisis.
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