Date:13/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/13/stories/2008101350390200.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Children begging on street saved

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: Two young girls and a six-month-old baby were taken by the Pananghad police and volunteers of Theruvora Pravarthaka Sangham, engaged in helping street children, to the Santhwanam charity home at Punnakkal after they were found begging for alms at Vytilla Junction on Sunday.

The Pananghad police said two girls and the baby were taken to the charity home where they have been given temporary shelter.

S. Murugan, secretary of the Theruvora Pravarthaka Sangham, claimed that he alerted the police about a group of people engaging children in begging for alms at the busy Vytilla Juction around 10.30 a.m. The three who were taken to the charity home were — Meena, about 18 years old, Menaka, 10 years old and the baby girl, Radhika, six months old, said Mr. Murugan. According to him, he found Menaka begging for alms, dressed as a boy and alerted the police about what was happening.

Mr. Murugan said according to the girls’ accounts, they hailed from a village on the outskirts of Delhi and that they first landed in Bangalore for begging. The money they received were given to a person who brought them to Bangalore and then to Kochi.