Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: In a renewed push to combat child exploitation on the streets, the Goa government is turning to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds to bolster its child rescue and rehabilitation efforts. The state has rescued 19 children involved in begging since January 2024, officials told the High Court this week.
The revelation came during a hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Moses Pinto, who called for strategic deployment of CSR contributions towards child welfare. Taking note of the suggestion, the Directorate of Women and Child Development has initiated correspondence with the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), seeking both financial and logistical support from the state’s corporate sector.
“A small contribution can change a child’s life,” read the department’s appeal to the business community, which outlines plans for sustained partnerships to address street child exploitation.
Director of the department, Jyoti Desai, informed the court that routine patrols by Childline 1098’s task force are underway in towns across the state. The rescued children, many of whom were found abandoned or in exploitative situations, are being channelled into state-run support and education systems.
From July 2025, the department will roll out a statewide awareness drive, involving Anganwadi centres, police stations, traffic cells, and panchayats. The aim is to build a network of early responders, inform the public, and reintegrate affected children into mainstream schooling.
In a forward-looking proposal, Pinto also recommended the creation of a dedicated “Child Welfare CSR Fund” — a pooled resource platform to finance mobile rescue units, shelter infrastructure, healthcare screening, psychological counselling, and vocational training for rescued children.
Officials say the vision is not just short-term protection, but long-term empowerment: “This is about breaking cycles of poverty and exploitation. With the help of Goa’s industries, we want to give these children tools for life,” an official said.
The state government is expected to expand its outreach in the coming months, targeting trade associations and businesses with focused awareness campaigns on child rights and welfare.
With the legal intervention setting the tone, and the government-corporate synergy taking shape, Goa is positioning itself to lead by example in creating a structured, fund-backed approach to child protection.
Sorry, there was a YouTube error.
