As part of 'Operation Rehabilitation', Tamil Nadu's crackdown against begging, police have rescued 742 people, including 16 children, from across the state, including in the key cities of Chennai, Coimbatore, Salem and Madurai.
Dr Sylendra Babu, the Director General of Police, said in a statement that while some of the rescued beggars were sent to rehabilitation centres, 150 of them were handed over to their families as part of the anti-begging drive.
The rescued children, the police official said, have been sent to children's homes.
Citing a rise in deployment of women and children for begging by traffickers, the DGP appealed to the public to dial 044-28447701 to tip off the police, promising "cash prizes for good information".
"In Coimbatore, three children found begging were rescued," said Mathiyazhagan, the District Child Protection Officer.
While begging is an offence in Tamil Nadu, there are many welfare schemes to take care of the basic necessities of the poor. Yet, these welfare schemes have not been able to stop many from indulging in begging.
There has also been a rise in migrants indulging in begging.
According to the DGP, "traffickers bring women and children from distant places to deploy them as beggars". He warned that "perpetrators will be put behind bars".
Commenting on the crackdown, Vanessa Peter, a social activist, said: "This requires lots of preparation for rehabilitation and its important that officials follow protocol and the guidelines of NCPCR [National Commission for Protection of Child Rights] meticulously."
Featured Video Of The Day
4-Year-Old Boy, Bitten By Stray Dog, Dies Of Rabies In Tamil Nadu: Report Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma Unite For Noble Cause, Donate For Charity Auction Upset Over Performance In Football Game, Tamil Nadu Teacher Slaps, Kicks Students 150 mg Semen In Kolkata Doctor's Body, Suspect Gang-Rape: Parents To Court "Want To Ask Congress...": Mamata Banerjee Snaps At Ally In Rape-Murder Case Mahindra Thar Roxx SUV Launched In India; Prices Start At Rs. 12.99 Lakh Single Woman Spent 20 Years Collecting Baby Clothes For Future Children "Will Suspend All Freebies Unless...": Supreme Court's Warning To Maharashtra 3 Budding Hockey Players Killed In Lightning Strike In Jharkhand: Cops Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.