PESHAWAR, Sept 18: Around 65 child beggars have been rehabilitated in the Welfare Home for Child Beggars since its establishment on May 27, according to the manager of the welfare organization. Manager Tariq Habib said the children had been picked up during raids at different shopping centres and roundabouts.

“Free boarding and lodging, medical care, food, clothing, recreation, counselling on moral values, vocational training and sport facilities are being provided to these children to make them useful citizens,” he said.

He said that the capacity of the centre would be increased with the extension of its building.

“Children from seven to 17 year of age are kept in the centre for one to three months and made to learn the basics of different skills like tailoring, carpeting and canning,” Mr Habib said.

He said that a lacuna in the Vagrancy Ordinance 1958 was hampering their efforts as parents of the child beggars got them released through courts.

He said that the provincial government was giving importance to eradicating the evil of beggary from the society.—PPI