405 child labourers rescued in Operation Muskan

Hyderabad: Hyderabad District authorities rescued 405 child labourers under operation smile and Muskan during last six months. Under this operation, the officials have inspected 35,000 shops in the city.

Children from other States like Gujarat, Bihar and Odisha are being bought by some agencies as child labourers. They have been forced to work at hotels, garages, general stores and into bangle making.

The Child Protection Department inspected 35,000 shops in various areas including Charminar, Asif Nagar, Musheerabad, Bandlaguda and Bahadurpura to rescue child labourers. During their inspection, the officials have found as many as 405 child labourers. Out of them, 273 are aged below 14years; 93 children are out of school; 12 children are going to school and working after school hours; and 132 are in the age group of 15 to 18.

Two children from SR Nagar and one from Sultan Bazaar were identified on Wednesday. This operation is being conducted by the personnel from police, revenue, labour, child line, education, health and other departments.

The Operation Muskan rescued 531 children in 2015 and (328) in 2016. Senior citizen GK Sunanda said, “We are concentrating on child labour, begging, missing and runway children.

Bonded Labour and Revenue Department will give a certificate to the child and Social Welfare Department will give them Rs 1000.” District Child Protection Officer MD Imtyaz Rahim said, “The children who are rescued will be sent to the hostels and will be given proper education. The children who have come from other states will be sent back to their homes with all the
relevant proofs.”

By Sravanthi Sanam