The Ebonyi State Governmenthas begun capturing of data of beggars and hawkers, especially underage, within Abakaliki metropolis.

The state Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Felicia Nwankpuma, made this known on Friday during a road walkto campaign againststreet begging, underage hawking, loitering and trafficking in vulnerable people.

The event took placeIn Abakaliki.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ministry?s Anti-Child Abuse Committee organisedthe campaign.

Nwankpuma described child hawking and begging, especially during achool hours, as child labour.

She disclosed that the data capturing would ensure that underage people wouldreturnto school.

She added that adult beggars would be trained in skills of their choice and be empowered.

?We have made efforts to pick some and requested that they should take up skills, and we will empower them at the end,? the commissioner said.

She said that the ministry was partnering withthe state Ministry of Health and Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, to embark on treatment of mentally-ill people on the streets.

?We will start with four persons, watch the progress and gradually pick them one after the other for treatment because some are not completely mentally-deranged but depressed,? Nwankpuma said.

She said that the campaign would becarried out in collaboration with royal fathers, community leaders and other stakeholders to properly identify and support the individuals. (NAN)