The child helpline 1098 task force rescued 19 children found engaged in begging activities since 2024, the department of women and child development told the high court on Monday. The task force associated with the helpline undertakes regular patrols of streets in all major towns in Goa, and children found living in poor conditions or appearing abandoned are rescued, director of women and child Jyoti Desai submitted in a public interest petition seeking a solution to the child begging issue in Goa.The department proposes to initiate a statewide awareness campaign through Anganwadi centres, police stations, especially traffic cells, and local self-governing bodies aimed at sensitising all stakeholders on the issue of children being forced into begging and kept away from the formal education system. The first phase of this campaign shall be launched in July 2025 and will strengthen the state’s response mechanism to prevent abuse, neglect, and exploitation of children, Desai stated.In keeping with the suggestion of the petitioner, advocate Moses Pinto, to use corporate social responsibility (CSR) funding for child welfare and rehabilitation of child beggars, the department has written to the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) appealing for contributions and support to augment existing state resources for the care and protection of underprivileged children.“Even your small contribution will be a great support for someone’s life betterment,” stated the communication from the directorate of women and child development to GCCI on Monday.Govt resolved to approach business houses and associations of traders in Goa to sensitise them on the issue of child welfare and the need for financial augmentation of state initiatives dedicated to child protection. Pinto suggested the creation of a child welfare CSR fund to consolidate CSR contributions from corporates wishing to support child rescue and rehabilitation projects. The fund can be utilised towards establishing mobile rescue teams, rescue vans, temporary shelter homes, medical screening units, immediate psychological counselling services, education programmes to facilitate mainstream school enrolment, skill development to enhance employability, and ensure economic independence, etc. , he suggested.