CHENNAI: Police in the state have rescued 1,883 children including 435 in Chennai, most of them either forced into begging or stranded on roads for various reasons, as part of ‘Operation Smile’ conducted across the country from February 1 to 15.
Under the same programme, the government railway police (GRP) rescued about 1,080 children from railway stations across the state during the period.
In Chennai, a special team formed to track and rescue the 435 children — 361 boys and 74 girls in the 8-17 age group — used the help of volunteers of various NGOs in the field and activists.
Talking about the GRP programme at a function held on February 15 at Dr MGR Chennai Central station, C Sylendra Babu, DGP, said three-member all-women teams headed by a sub-inspector posted at all 47 GRP railway stations in the state under the programme would continue their efforts. Inspector general V Vanitha, deputy inspector general M V Jaya Gowri, P Rajan, SP (railways) and Southern Railway chief security commissioner Birendrakumar were among those who participated in the event.
Appreciating the efforts of officials of the child welfare committee and the Tamil Nadu Protection of Child Rights, Sylendra Babu said that 764 boys and 102 girls were rescued during the 15-day drive. Of the 11,244 children rescued from railways stations in TN from 2016 to 2021, 2,600 children were handed over to their parents and 8,644 sent to child care institutions, he said.
Anyone seeking to pass on information about all types of crime or lodge security-related complaints can reach the GRP personnel 24x7 on helpline number 1512 or on mobile number 9962500500, he said. Rail passengers are also advised to inform the railway police about any missing children they notice, he added.
On February 2, a day after the launch of the special drive, the GRP personnel had conducted a special meeting with autorickshaw drivers and call taxi drivers at Chennai Central station to create awareness about the need to inform the authorities about children found abandoned or stranded.