Operation Smile-XII launched to combat child labour in Kothagudem

Superintendent of Police B. Rohith Raju has announced the launch of ‘Operation Smile-XII’ in Kothagudem district, to be conducted from January 1 to 31. The initiative aims to protect child rights, provide counselling to parents, and take strict legal action against offenders.

Kothagudem: Five special teams have been formed to carry out ‘Operation Smile-XII, which would be conducted from January 1 to 31, informed Superintendent of Police, B Rohith Raju.

He held a meeting at the SP’s office with police officers and officials from the Child Welfare Committee, labour, education, child protection, health and other departments on Friday to review the programme. The SP unveiled the Operation Smile-XII posters.

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The five teams would conduct inspections in the district’s five police sub-divisions, Kothagudem, Paloncha, Bhadrachalam, Yellandu and Manugur in coordination with other departments to eradicate child labour in the district, he said.

Rohith Raju stated that the teams would identify missing children, child labourers working in grocery stores, mechanic shops, hotels and factories, as well as abandoned children and those begging on the streets.

They would provide counselling to their parents and either hand the children over to them or send them to a child care home. Criminal cases would be registered against anyone who forces children into begging and bonded labour, he warned.

Human development was possible only through the protection of children’s rights; he said while urging the officials to formulate a concrete plan to make the programme a success. The public should inform the police by calling 1098, dial-100 or contacting the police directly if they found any child labour in the district.

SB Inspector Srinivas, DCRB CI Srinivas, IT Cell Inspector Ramu, DWO Swarnalatha Lenina, CWC members Ambedkar and Sadiq Pasha, assistant labour officer Sharfuddin, DCPO Hari Kumari, Childline coordinator Sandeep, assistant commissioner of exams Madhava Rao, She-Team SI Ramadevi and others were present.