New Delhi, September 4: More than 3,800 children were rescued from child labour during a nationwide special drive conducted by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), officials said.The campaign, launched on June 12 and conducted till August 31, aimed at identifying and rescuing children engaged in labour as well as those vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation.
The statutory child rights body, functioning under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, coordinated with state governments, Union Territory administrations, district authorities, labour departments and police agencies for the operations.
Authorities were asked to conduct focused inspections and rescue operations at locations suspected of involving child labour and trafficking. States and UTs were also directed to provide regular information on rescued children, FIRs registered, rehabilitation measures, restoration to families, enrolment in mainstream education and compensation.
To monitor the implementation, NCPCR held meetings with district administrations to review rescue operations, address operational difficulties and improve coordination among government departments and agencies. Officials were also asked to ensure timely submission of action-taken reports.
The Commission conducted awareness activities through social media and other communication channels to encourage reporting of child labour cases and highlight the importance of rehabilitation and educational reintegration of rescued children.
The campaign resulted in the rescue of more than 3,800 children, while over 575 FIRs were registered in connection with cases detected during the drive, according to the Commission.
NCPCR said continued monitoring and coordinated action by authorities are important to ensure that rescued children receive appropriate rehabilitation and opportunities to return to mainstream education.
