India • Jun 21, 2025

Punjab government tightens Beggary Act enforcement

Punjab is gearing up to update its Beggary Act, aiming for stricter penalties against anyone forcing kids to beg at traffic lights.
Minister Baljit Kaur says special teams will focus on breaking up these rackets and, most importantly, helping affected children get back on their feet.

TL;DR

'Smile' pilot project in 5 cities

After rescuing 286 children from begging since July 2024 through the Jeevanjot project, Punjab is launching a new pilot called "Smile" in five cities.
The goal? To identify child beggars and their families using DNA tests and work toward making districts completely free of begging—part of a bigger push for child safety and support across the state.