Cyberabad cops rescue 581 children in a year

Hyderabad: 'Operation Smile' teams formed by the Cyberabad Police rescued around 581 which includes 213 girls from various categories from June 18, 2018 to June 17, 2019.

'Operation Smile' was launched on June 18 last year by the Commissioner of Police, Cyberabad, and the teams are deployed to search for children in public places who are found begging, rag picking etc.

There are three 'Smile' teams working in three zones of Cyberabad Commissionerate. The aim of these teams is to prevent child trafficking and rescue children from persons who engage them in begging, sex trade and other anti social activities and to trace missing children.

According to the press release issued by the Cyberabad Commissionerate, stated that 581 children including 368 boys and 213 girls from various categories in a year. Among this rescued children 543 handed over to rescue home, 38 children were later returned to their parents.

Smile teams collected information that some children were working at a brick kiln at Donthanpally village, Shakarpally. Team members observed and took photos and videos of the children while they were working. A Smile team and a SHE team went to the spot and rescued 32 children from child labour on January 18, 2019.

A team consisting of Smile team, SHE team went to the spot and rescued 20 children from child labour on February 22, 2019 at another brick kiln at Kacharam village, Shamshabad. They were produced before the Child Welfare Committee, Ranga Reddy district and placed in a shelter home. .

Teams consisting of Smile team, SHE team, Childline and DCPU, Ranga Reddy district rescued a total number of 18 children who were being made to beg at Calvary temple on January 1, 2019. The rescued children were produced before the Child Welfare Committee, Ranga Reddy district, and 7 girls were sent to Nimboliadda Home for Girls, while 8 boys were sent to Saidabad Home for Boys and 3 children were sent to Shishu Vihar for rehabilitation.

Cyberabad police has launched a special Whatsapp number 7901115474 for reporting on child labour. Citizens are requested to report on persons employing children below 14 years as child labour in hotels, restaurants and tea stalls. They can also call up '100' or send e-mail to "smileteamcyb@gmail.com." Stringent action will be taken against the offenders.

Using children below 14 years as labour is 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, stated the press release by the Cyberabad Commissioner.