A hotline for informants to report any child begging they witness was also included in the notice.

"Some villagers found out that organizing disabled children to beg can win more sympathy from people and help them make money more easily," Zhang said.

Gong Chuanwen, who has been Party secretary of Gongxiao village in Taihe county for 27 years, reportedly said the average annual income for local farmers is only 1,500 yuan if they rely on agriculture. In contrast, some local villagers who make profits from using children have already built fancy houses, Gong told Oriental Morning Post.

The online campaign, launched on micro blogs at sina.com.cn about two weeks ago, called on netizens to take photos of children begging on the streets. It has gained the support of police across the country.

An estimated six child beggars have been successfully rescued by police thanks to the online campaign, Zhejiang-based Qianjiang Evening News reported without identifying the source.

By the end of Wednesday, the campaign, which aimed to help parents find their missing children, has become the second most popular topic of micro blogs at sina.com.cn.

"All children should enjoy an education and a happy childhood rather than act as tools by adults to gain the sympathy of passers-by," Gao Jun, an active volunteer from Beijing, wrote on his micro blog.