Hyderabad: More than 5,000 child labourers were rescued across Telangana in just one month during Operation Muskaan-12, exposing the alarming scale of child exploitation in hotels, tea stalls, construction sites, brick kilns and other workplaces.
6,307 children rescued
Police rescued a total of 6,307 children, including 2,860 from other states and Nepal, and arrested 1,710 people in a statewide crackdown carried out throughout July.
The month-long operation, led by the Telangana Women Safety Wing, was conducted from July 1 to July 31 with the support of the Women and Child Welfare Department, Labour Department, Health Department, Child Welfare Committees, District Child Protection Units and NGOs.
Thousands of children rescued from exploitation
Among the 6,307 rescued children, 5,892 were boys and 415 were girls.
While 3,447 children belonged to Telangana, another 2,860 were traced to other Indian states and Nepal, indicating the interstate and cross-border dimensions of child trafficking.
The rescued children included:
- 5,041 child labourers
- One bonded labourer
- 647 street children
- 43 children engaged in begging
- 11 runaway children
- 563 children rescued from other vulnerable situations, including child marriage, illegal adoption and school dropout cases.
1,705 cases registered, 1,710 arrested
Police registered 1,705 criminal cases against those involved in employing or exploiting children and arrested 1,710 accused during the special drive. Authorities said 1,989 children were rescued directly through these criminal cases.
The Labour Department also intensified enforcement by issuing 1,381 inspection reports and imposing Rs 37.95 lakh in penalties under the Minimum Wages Act for labour law violations.
Raids conducted across high-risk locations
As part of the operation, 620 police personnel from 124 police sub-divisions underwent special training on child protection laws and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) before launching coordinated inspections.
Joint teams raided several locations where child labour is commonly reported, including:
- Hotels and dhabas
- Tea stalls
- Construction sites
- Brick kilns
- Mechanic and automobile workshops
- Grocery stores
- Meat shops
- Bakeries
- Welding units
- Footwear shops
- Electrical and electronics stores
- Railway stations, bus stations and temples
Officials also identified children who had dropped out of school and brought them under the protection system.
Most children reunited with their families
Of the rescued children, 5,737 were reunited with their families after due verification, while 570 children were shifted to Child Care Institutions for rehabilitation, counselling and long-term support.
Telangana's model earns praise
Women Safety Wing Director Charu Sinha said the success of Operation Muskaan-12 was made possible through close coordination among multiple government departments, child welfare agencies and civil society organisations.
She said Telangana has once again demonstrated a strong and coordinated approach in combating child labour, child trafficking and bonded labour, setting an example for other states in protecting vulnerable children.