Hyderabad: Under the Operation Smile-XI programme, the Rachakonda Commissionerate rescued over 1,051 children in January. This initiative aims to find missing children and stop child labour.
To carry out the operation, nine teams were formed, each consisting of one Sub-Inspector (SI) and four Police Constables (PCs), including one Woman Police Constable (WPC). They worked alongside the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU), She Team, and the Special Branch Team. The operation took place from January 1 to January 31, 2025.
During this time, the teams rescued 512 boys and 28 girls within the state. They also rescued 473 boys and 38 girls from outside the state. The teams conducted raids on industries, companies, and other workplaces where children were found working. The rescued children were then presented before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).
The police registered 464 FIRs and made 410 General Diary (GD) entries under different laws, including the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Child and Adolescent Labour Prohibition & Regulation Act-1986 (CALPR), and the Juvenile Justice Act. Employers who hired children for work were arrested, and in total, 1,051 people were taken into custody.
Investigations revealed that employers forced children to work for long hours while paying them extremely low wages. Since local workers refused such harsh conditions, factory owners brought in labourers, including children, from other states. These children were forced to work in unsafe and illegal conditions, violating labour laws.
