Ahmedabad city authorities have launched a sweeping anti-begging campaign, rescuing more than 60 children in the past week as the city accelerates preparations to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and support India's bid for the 2036 Olympic Games. Joint teams comprising officials from the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), the Mahila Cell of the Ahmedabad Crime Branch, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU), local police, and child protection authorities have fanned out across the city's busiest commercial corridors and tourist destinations.

Scale of the Operation

On Monday, a special drive covering 41 hotspots across the city's north-west and south-west zones resulted in the rescue of 44 children, all of whom were produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). Of these, four children were moved to child protection homes, while 40 were reunited with their parents after assurances that the children would not be used for begging. Fifteen men and five women were presented before a court and subsequently transferred to beggar homes at Odhav and Dabhoda.

A follow-up drive the next day in the city's west zone covered more than 34 hotspots, yielding the rescue of 16 more children. Nine of them, along with their parents, were shifted to AMC-operated shelter homes, while seven were returned to parents who gave written undertakings. Thirteen men and 39 women were also produced before a court and transferred to rehabilitation facilities.

Two Years of Sustained Action

DCP (Crime) Ajit Rajian confirmed that the current operation is part of a broader effort running for more than two years. Since 2024, authorities have rescued 276 children, traced and reunited 33 missing children with their families, registered 22 cases under the Juvenile Justice Act involving 67 children rescued from begging, and conducted 33 raids against child labour in which 107 children were rescued. More than 60 children have been enrolled in AMC schools during this period.

'For the past two years, the Mahila Cell has been taking stringent action against individuals who have been soliciting children into the act of begging,' Rajian said. He added that during 2026 alone, more than 60 children and 89 adults had been rescued through anti-begging operations and referred for rehabilitation. Authorities also cited the rescue of a 15-day-old infant in a case that led to the dismantling of an interstate trafficking racket.

Who Is Being Rescued — and Why They Are Here

Children encountered during the drives range from four to 16 years of age. Police say begging is not the only form of exploitation involved. 'Not only begging, but some of the kids are also forced to sell cheap quality toys for exorbitant prices, some are made to clean vehicles at red lights or perform dangerous activities like walking on a tightrope, or doing some kind of stunt,' Rajian said.

Investigators said they had not found evidence of kidnapping or organised forced begging during the current operations. However, a recurring pattern has emerged involving families arriving from neighbouring states, reportedly lured by the perception that begging in Ahmedabad is financially rewarding. 'Several families, through some agents from outside Gujarat, from neighbouring states, come to Ahmedabad because they think that begging here is a lucrative opportunity,' Rajian said. Authorities are verifying backgrounds with neighbouring states and have flagged past cases where children were allegedly used by relatives to transport alcohol.

Child Welfare at the Centre of the Drive

ACP (Mahila Cell) Himala Joshi said every rescued child was produced before the Child Welfare Committee and processed under the Juvenile Justice Act. Medical examinations are conducted to identify signs of abuse or violence, and officials verify whether accompanying adults are genuinely related to the children. 'We are especially looking for any children who have undergone any abuse or may have faced violence,' she said.

Joshi noted that cases can be registered against parents who knowingly involve children in begging. She also cautioned that well-intentioned donations to beggars can inadvertently sustain cycles of exploitation and undermine rehabilitation efforts. Authorities identified 124 hotspots across Ahmedabad — including the Sabarmati Riverfront, CG Road, SG Highway, and South Bopal — where begging activity is concentrated. The current intensive drive is expected to continue for at least one week.

The Sporting Context

Ahmedabad has been confirmed as the host city for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which officials describe as a stepping stone toward India's bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games. Major sports infrastructure projects are already underway across the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar region. Officials are careful to frame the anti-begging campaign as a child welfare priority, not merely a cosmetic exercise. 'When we are talking about safety, we cannot ignore the safety of children and women,' Joshi said. The campaign, they argue, reflects a parallel commitment to protecting the city's most vulnerable residents even as it builds world-class sporting venues.