Four children rescued under Operation Smile-2

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 8

Four children were rescued/found and are in process for rehabilitation under Operation Smile-2 initiated by the Government of India, the Ministry of Social Welfare and Women and Child Welfare Department. In a joint collaboration led by Deputy Commissioner Varun Roojam, the District Child Protection Unit, child helpline and the police, the search and rescue operation was carried out during the month of July. 

The Nodal Officer and Deputy Commissioner (welfare), SP Angra, said one of the rescued children, 16-year-old Simran, belonged to Denkund village, Himachal Pradesh, another child, eight-year-old Naina belonged to Inderpuri in Delhi. Another 14-year-old boy belonging to a village in Assam was also rescued along with the two girls. “We also received an infant girl, who has been handed over to the Red Cross Society’s Pangura,” he said. 

The District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) is now busy in re-uniting these children with their families. Aimed at rescue and rehabilitation of children through educational and vocational support, the District Child Protection Team in Amritsar has given an impetus to the movement in Punjab. From running special rehab homes-cum- schools for the rescued children to creating awareness of child rights through seminars and discussions in various schools, the DCPU has also constituted a special task force for the Operation Smile-2.

With a team of volunteers, the cell is dedicated to design social outreach programmes for awareness and will adopt a sensitised approach while dealing with the menace.