Chandigarh, September 23, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A girl rescued from begging in Patiala under the Punjab Government’s ‘Jeewanjot 2.0’ initiative has found a permanent family through the legal adoption process, marking a significant step in her journey from vulnerability to safety, care and belonging.
Punjab Cabinet Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development Dr. Baljit Kaur said the government is committed to ensuring that every child in need of care and protection receives dignity, support and the opportunity to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment.
The girl, born in 2019, was rescued from the Leela Bhawan area of Patiala on November 19, 2024, during the ‘Jeewanjot 2.0’ campaign, which focuses on rescuing children found begging and connecting them with protection, rehabilitation and long-term care.
Following the rescue, the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), Patiala, produced her before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), which ordered her placement in a Specialized Adoption Agency (SAA). The child subsequently received counselling, healthcare, education and emotional support in a safe and caring environment.
According to Dr. Baljit Kaur, a detailed social investigation found that the child had no surviving biological relative capable of providing care and protection. After completion of the prescribed legal process, the CWC declared her legally free for adoption on June 4, 2026.
She was thereafter matched with a suitable Prospective Adoptive Parent through the statutory adoption process and placed in Pre-Adoption Foster Care on July 27, 2026. After completion of all legal formalities, the adoption was finalized by the competent authority on September 22, 2026.
Dr. Baljit Kaur said the case highlights that rehabilitation does not end with rescuing a child and requires sustained care, emotional support, education and, wherever legally possible, a permanent family environment.
She appreciated the efforts of the State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA), DCPU, CWC, SAA, counsellors and other adoption authorities for ensuring that the child’s welfare remained the priority throughout the process.
“A child’s future should never be defined by hardship or abandonment. Our responsibility does not end with rescue—it begins there,” Dr. Baljit Kaur said, adding that the government would continue strengthening child protection services, family-based care and rehabilitation across Punjab.
She said every child deserves love, security and opportunities to grow, and reiterated the department’s commitment to protecting the rights, dignity and future of vulnerable children.
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