Ludhiana: In a major step to combat child trafficking and forced begging, the health department collected DNA samples from six rescued children at the civil hospital on Wednesday in the presence of the district child protection officer (DCPO) and police personnel as part of Project Jeevanjot 2.0.The move comes two days after the district administration faced a setback when hospital staff refused to take DNA samples, citing a lack of official guidelines. In response, deputy commissioner Sakshi Sawhney constituted a high-level committee comprising the DCPO, civil surgeon, and representatives from the police commissioner to oversee the testing process.DCPO Rashmi Saini said the six children were accompanied by adults who claimed to be their parents but had failed to produce any valid documents such as Aadhaar cards or birth certificates. Consent for the DNA testing was reportedly taken from the adults present. However, the process raised ethical questions within the health department, with one official noting the unusual nature of taking consent from individuals who may be implicated in trafficking if the DNA results prove otherwise.The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) chairman, Gurjit Singh Romana, confirmed that the testing had been carried out under the committee’s direction. He said legal action would be initiated if biological links between the children and the adults could not be confirmed. Of the 18 children rescued from the streets of Ludhiana, only one child’s biological relationship was verified through documentation, while 11 remain unclaimed, and efforts to establish their identities continue.Any adult found to be claiming parental ties falsely may face legal charges under a range of laws, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Juvenile Justice Act, Child Labour Act, and Bonded Labour Abolition Act. The photos and profiles of unidentified children will also be uploaded to the Track the Child Portal to help locate their real families.Each child will have an individual case file compiled by the DCPO, detailing everything from DNA test records and social investigation reports to any benefits provided and information about the accompanying adult. The administration said the children have been relocated to safe temporary shelters while verification is underway.MSID:: 122863372 413 |
