Jalandhar, January 17: Tightening the noose for curbing the menace of beggary, the district administration has decided to launch anti-begging drive in the city from January 22 (Monday). A decision to this effect was taken in a high level meeting of District Anti Begging Task Force held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar Varinder Kumar Sharma here at District Administrative Complex.
In the meeting Deputy Commissioner, Civil Judge (Senior Division) cum Secretary District Legal Services Authority Gurmeet Tiwana and Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Gautam Singhal unequivocally said that the curse of beggary would be stamped out from the city. They said that every effort would be made to ensure that city was made free from this social malady. They said that special photography / videography would be done during the drive to trace habitual offenders for stern action. They said that strict action would be taken against the people involved in beggary besides making concerted efforts to insure their rehabilitation. It was further decided in the meeting that during the drive Police and civil administration would nab the people involved in begging and take action against them as per the provisions of law. It was apprised in the meeting that habitual beggars could be imprisoned for three years if was found guilty of begging again and again.
Likewise, it was informed that any person forcing a child for begging could be sentenced to five years of imprisonment adding that a person harming any organ of child could be put behind the bars for seven years. They said that District Anti Begging Task Force would regularly monitor the drive to be undertaken by anti – begging squad of Police. They said that squad would be headed by a Sub Inspector with three female and two male members. They said that before the formal launching of drive a massive mass awareness campaign would be launched in the city to apprise the people about this social malady.