Manipur Commission Enrolls Begging Child in Formal Education

Imphal: A seven-year-old girl has been enrolled in a formal education program after being discovered begging near the Kwairamband Keithel overbridge in Imphal. The Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights intervened in the case after receiving a request from the Social Upliftment Association, an organization that manages the government's SMILE scheme in the Imphal West district.

The child was observed accompanying an elderly woman named Hamida Khatun in the busy market area before officials brought her before the Commission. To ensure the girl receives a proper education, the Commission instructed the Zonal Education Officer for Imphal East Zone-II to secure her a spot at a local government school.

Local authorities are also working to stabilize the child's future. The District Child Protection Unit in Imphal East has been tasked with helping the girl obtain official identity documents, such as a birth certificate and an Aadhaar card. These records will provide her with access to broader welfare benefits.

The Commission has also requested a social investigation to qualify the child for sponsorship support through the Mission Vatsalya scheme. This initiative aims to provide the girl with long-term rehabilitation and support as she transitions into the classroom.