Thousands of children forced into begging in Delhi

The scourge of child begging continues to rise in numbers in New Delhi, the capital city of India.

Despite the enactment of strict laws by the government, a distressing number of young children find themselves ensnared in the harrowing cycle of begging on the streets of Delhi.

In the bustling metropolis of the Indian capital city, these vulnerable children can frequently be spotted soliciting alms outside transportation hubs such as metro and railway stations, as well as at religious sites. The sight of children begging at traffic signals has become all too common, with some even resorting to selling flowers and balloons to eke out a living.

The gravity of the situation is underscored by the sheer volume of children engaged in begging, with as many as four or five young ones often observed at a single traffic signal.

According to recent police reports, the number of children engaged in begging continues to escalate unabated. Alarmingly, it’s estimated that a staggering 44,000 children go missing in Delhi every year, many of whom are believed to be coerced into begging by unscrupulous individuals seeking to exploit their vulnerability.

While it’s illegal for children to beg independently in Delhi, many are coerced or manipulated by family members into undertaking these desperate measures for survival.

The issue of child begging extends far beyond the confines of Delhi, with millions of children throughout India falling victim to this scourge. Many of these children hail from impoverished backgrounds in states such as Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh, where familial hardships such as parental alcoholism and economic strife drive them to flee in search of a better life.