Daijiworld Media Network - Gandhinagar
Gandhinagar, Jun 16: Gujarat Police have intensified their efforts to eliminate child labour across the state, rescuing 84 children and registering 16 criminal cases against 26 individuals during the first two weeks of a special statewide operation.
The campaign, titled ‘Operation Childhood Freedom’, has been initiated under the guidance of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi with the aim of ensuring that children are in classrooms instead of workplaces.
Police teams are carrying out inspections across industrial zones, commercial establishments and other workplaces suspected of employing underage workers. Authorities said children found working at these locations are being immediately rescued, while legal action is being taken against those responsible for employing them.
Director General of Police G.S. Malik said the initiative goes beyond enforcement and places strong emphasis on rebuilding the lives of rescued children.
“This is not merely a series of raids. Our priority is also to rehabilitate these children and provide them with opportunities to begin a better future,” Malik said.
According to officials, 67 of the rescued children have already been rehabilitated. The state administration is also helping them return to formal education, while 160 awareness programmes have been organised to educate communities about the dangers of child labour.
In one recent operation, Kamrej Police in Surat rescued two children from a textile manufacturing unit known as Jay Ambe Textiles after acting on specific intelligence inputs.
Investigators found that the children were allegedly receiving around Rs 200 per day and were required to work from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., with only a one-hour break for lunch.
Police alleged that the children were subjected to physical, mental and economic exploitation and were pressured to continue working even when they resisted. A criminal case has been filed against the employer involved.
Additional Director General of Police Ajay Chaudhary, attached to the Crime Investigation Department’s Women Cell, said authorities have uncovered child labour cases in textile factories, hotels, rice mills and various small-scale industries.
He added that several rescued children had reportedly been brought from Bihar and Rajasthan, prompting investigators to examine whether organised child trafficking networks were involved.
Officials said the crackdown will not be limited to factory owners. Investigators are also targeting contractors and intermediaries who recruit and transport children for illegal employment.
Police believe poverty, migration and the demand for low-cost labour continue to be the primary reasons behind the persistence of child labour in the state.
Authorities said they will work closely with the Labour Department, Child Welfare Committees, schools and non-governmental organisations to strengthen preventive measures and support rehabilitation efforts.
As part of the campaign, Gujarat Police plan to inspect more than 50,000 establishments across the state and have set a target of rescuing over 5,000 child labourers. Simultaneously, awareness campaigns are being conducted to educate traders and business owners about child protection laws and the importance of keeping children in school.