Kohima, July 15, 2025: In a major step towards safeguarding the rights of underprivileged and vulnerable children, the Directorate of School Education, Government of Nagaland, has issued an official advisory to identify and enroll children engaged in begging into government schools. The directive, dated June 17, 2025, aligns with the National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) recommendation to protect and rehabilitate impoverished children, women, and differently-abled persons involved in begging.
The advisory, signed by Principal Director Shashank Pratap Singh, IAS, calls for active participation from NGOs, municipal and village councils, churches, student unions, and the general public. Citizens have been urged to report details of such children to the Child Helpline 1098 to facilitate their admission into the nearest government schools.
The focus of the initiative is twofold:
• To identify out-of-school children aged 6–14 who are either never enrolled or have dropped out, including those seen begging.
• To locate children aged 3-6, especially those whose parents are engaged in begging and are not currently enrolled in pre-schools, Anganwadi, or Balvatika centres.
ALSO READ: CM Neiphiu Rio Highlights India-Russia Ties at Bharat Utsav 2025 Closing in Moscow
To ensure smooth implementation, District Education Officers (DEOs), Sub-Divisional Education Officers (SDEOs), and Senior SDEOs in Zunheboto district have been instructed to work in close coordination with the respective District Child Protection Units (DCPUs) and Child Welfare Committees (CWCs). This inter-agency collaboration will help ensure that children are enrolled in accordance with the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.
