From Begging to Classroom: 20 Rescued Children Enrolled in Ahmedabad Schools

Wearing new uniforms — red T-shirts and navy blue shorts — and carrying school bags, 20 children stood among their peers at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation-run Anupam Primary School in Thaltej on Wednesday. Until Tuesday, they were begging on the streets of the city. The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the Ahmedabad police rescued them and enrolled them in schools on the second day of the annual Shala Praveshotsav, a school enrolment drive.

Among the children was a 14-year-old boy whose father is a daily wage worker. He said he was rescued by the police but denied being a beggar. An 11-year-old girl, reportedly rescued from the Chanakyapuri area, refused to speak. Her parents said that though their daughter was rescued by police, they do not let her beg. Officials of the AHTU said the children were cautious, fearing legal consequences.

Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, who enrolled about 300 students in various municipal schools on Wednesday, said the programme could inspire other states and cities. The 20 rescued children were part of a joint drive by police and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Tuesday. Since 2022, the police and AMC have freed 276 children from begging and provided them education in 'Signal Schools', a scheme for out-of-school children rescued from city streets.

Sanghavi said: 'Today, I congratulate the Ahmedabad police and I thank them on behalf of these children. I can see a spirit of doing something good in the eyes of these children.' He also congratulated the police for rescuing and reuniting about 33 children from different states who were forced into begging in Gujarat. The Deputy CM urged teachers to give these children warmth and affection. 'Don't treat it as official work or a responsibility given by the government,' he said.

According to a state government release, a total of 303 students were admitted at the function, including the 20 rescued children, 233 children from Signal Schools, and 50 new admissions. Director General of Police G S Malik and AMC Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani attended the event. Pani said the enrollment was a joint effort of the police, AMC, and the Social Justice and Empowerment Department.

Officers of the AHTU who performed well were felicitated by the Deputy CM. In-Charge head of AHTU, Assistant Commissioner of Police Himala Joshi, said their squads regularly carry out drives to rescue children begging on the streets, following a standard operating procedure.