61 children rescued under ‘Operation Muskaan’

Just a day after Collector B. Lakshmikantam declared Krishna a ‘child labour-free’ district, officials of various departments rescued 61 children reportedly engaged in different works in the city.

The children were working as tea and cloth vendors, employed in juice stalls and other establishments.

Police, in association with the Labour, Juvenile Welfare, Women Development and Child Welfare, National Child Labour Project and Labour Departments and some NGOs, conducted raids at various places on Wednesday, and rescued the children.

“The children were natives of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh”, said Police Commissioner D. Gautam Sawang, while presenting the rescued children before the media.

Doing odd jobs

The children were migrating from the neighbouring States in search of livelihood and are working in different establishments, the Police Commissioner said.

Police would counsel the rescued children and their parents, and they would be admitted in schools, if necessary, Mr. Sawang said.

Deputy Commissioners of Police Ghajarao Bhupal (Law and Order), J. Brahma Reddy (Administration) and other officers were present.

The police officers interacted with the rescued children and enquired about their welfare.