Hyderabad: Cyberabad police have formed “Operation Smile Teams” in the three zones of Cyberabad, which will work throughout the year to rescue children from child labour, begging, rag picking, runaways and vulnerable children.
During February and March, 91 children (61 boys, 30 girls) were rescued from rag picking, child labour and begging and 81, including 51 boys and 30 girls were sent to Shelter Home, 10 children were handed over to their parents (10 boys).
Rescued children from Begging were 10 boys and nine 9 girls, child labour 36 boys, 17 girls, Rag-Pickers 14 boys and 3 girls), Missing one boy, child marriage one girl. Out of the 91 rescued children, 31 were boys and 18 girls belonging to other States.
Police said 12 cases were registered against those employing children for labour work and the children were presented before the Child Welfare Committee and sent to various Shelter Homes. Children in the Shelter Homes were being sent to school.
Some 20 children were rescued from child labour for working along with their parents at a Brick Kiln at Kacharam village, Shamshabad. On receipt of the information, team members went to the spot and rescued them while working. On February 22, the Smile Team, She Team member with help of DCPU Ranga Reddy went to the spot and rescued six boys and 14 girls all were under 14 years of age. They were produced before the Child Welfare Committee, Ranga Reddy district and placed in a Shelter Home. A case has been registered against the employer in Shamshabad Police Station.
In another case, seven children were rescued from child labour while they were working along with their parents at a Brick Kiln at Jukal village, Shamshabad. On a tip-off, Team members went to the spot and took videos of the toiling children. On March 19, the Smile Team and She Team members, with help of DCPU Ranga Reddy, went to the spot and rescued four boys and three girls all under 14 years. They were produced before the Child Welfare Committee, Ranga Reddy district and placed in a Shelter Home. A case has been registered against the employer in Shamshabad Police Station.
The Teams search and rescue vulnerable children below 14 years on footpaths, traffic junctions, working in tea stalls, dabhas, near religious places, micro industries and so on in Cyberabad Commissionerate.
The Cyberabad Police have launched a special What’sapp No.7901115474 for reporting on child labour. The police requested the citizens to report against those using children below 14 years as child labourers in hotels, restaurants, dabhas, tea stalls and so on on this number or Dial 100 or send e-mail to “smileteamcyb@gmail.com”. Stringent action will be taken against the offenders. Using children below 14 years as labour was prohibited by law and carries punishment of imprisonment of up to three years. People can also report about any child found begging along with the address and the Smile Team will rescue the child and help in their rehabilitation.
Operation Aasra
To rescue destitute children from streets, the Cyberabad police launched Operation Smile, Operation Aasra on March 20 and people above 60 years, who are found begging and are in a helpless state were being rescued by Cyberabad Aasra Teams. They are sent for rehabilitation to the Anand Ashram run by the Prisons Department. Men destitute are sent to Chanchalguda and women destitutes to Charlapalli Anand Ashram. They are provided accommodation, food, recreation and education. Some of them who can work are provided with work and earn income. Those finding destitutes begging or in a helpless condition can be shared on what’sapp No: 7901115474 by people who want the destitute to be rescued. So far, 21 people were rescued.
[source_without_link]NSS[/source_without_link]