Justice for child beggars

Punjab's decision to raise the child-protection age under its vagrancy law from 14 to 16 is a welcome, overdue correction. A 14-year-old is not an adult, and treating children between 14 and 16 as such left a gap that begging networks and unscrupulous parents and guardians could exploit with impunity.

In a positive sign, the amendment bill passed through committee with unanimous approval, showing that no one has any serious objection to the age increase or other changes that increase penalties for forcing children to beg. Those penalties will - if the amendment bill passes - be up to three years' imprisonment and fines of up to Rs300,000 for parents or guardians who use children for begging or allow others to do so. The bill also creates a controller with province-wide powers to coordinate anti-begging operations, inspect welfare and rehabilitation centres, and maintain a central database.

The bill is very much a reaction to injustice. Punjab recorded 2,693 child-begging cases in the first half of 2025, yet not a single conviction was recorded in that period, and 2,669 cases remained under trial. The province's Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey for 2023–24 found 8.5% of children aged five to 17 engaged in child labour, rising to 10.8% in rural areas. Meanwhile, the over 25 million children out of school are all vulnerable to being forced into forced beggary or other forms of child labour.

Implementation, however, will depend on adequate rehabilitation facilities, trained staff and financial resources; and the parental-liability provision, if enforced too strictly, risks punishing desperately poor families rather than organised beggary gangs. Tougher penalties without functioning prosecution and rehabilitation systems will only displace children from one intersection to another. Raising the age to 16 is progress, but the goal should still be 18, consistent with Punjab's child-marriage law and the generally accepted age of majority. Until then, this amendment deserves support - and rigorous enforcement.