325 Child Labour Rescued in City This Month –14 Cases Booked

Hyderabad, Jan.28 (Maxim News): Operation Smile – V for tracing missing children was launched on January 1, 2019. This is a month long program to trace missing children and rescue child labour, children engaged in begging etc. In Hyderabad City 17 teams were constituted each headed by a Sub Inspector. In the city, so far 325 children have been rescued including 11 girls. Of these 53 children have been admitted in rescue homes while 272 have been handed over to their parents. Seven of the rescued children were below 10 years of age, 38 were between 11-14 years while 280 children were between ages of 14-18 years.

Giving these details at a media meet today, Commissioner of police, Anjani Kumar, said that during this operation, 14 cases have been booked against various establishments for engaging child labour. Further a fine amount of Rs. 6,75,365 was imposed on establishments for various violations. The rescued children were found working in different types of establishments/factories like those engaged in making Bags, Bangles, Biscuits, Bakery, electrical items, mechanic shops, computer work, fabrications, welding shops, tiffin centres etc.

Besides rescuing children belonging to Hyderabad & Telangana, 100 children belonging to other states like A.P, Bihar, Jharkhand, U.P. and even Nepal were rescued during this operation. The Darpan app was used for checking the details of children with the database. Taking a humane approach, the city police on its own initiative admitted three of these children in schools. Two of these children had dropped out from school due to family reasons and were found wandering on the streets. They have been admitted in different schools in Secunderabad and were provided uniform & books by S.I. Rajini of Trimulghery PS.

Further, one boy of 10 years was working in electrical shop due to financial problem. He showed interest in joining school and ASI Rafiuddin of Golconda P.S. took initiative and got him admitted in a school at Tappachabutra.

The Commissioner expressed gratefulness to the managements of the three schools who have agreed to provide free education to these children.(Maxim News)