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International columnist, political analyst and senior journalist Ahmed Mohiuddin Siddiqui’s articles are published across Asia, Africa and Europe. He writes for The Moroccan Times, The Tunis Times, India Tomorrow, Kohram News, The Etemaad Urdu Daily and for news papers published from Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. You can follow him on Twitter at: @journopolana[/symple_box]
The Government of India had issued a directive to start “Operation Smile-II” from 1st January, 2016 to 31st January, 2016 as a follow up of the earlier campaign to rescue and rehabilitate the missing children.
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The Greatest gift we can give to our children is to raise them in an environment of peace and facilitate a normal childhood[/symple_box]
With this thought, the Ranga Reddy Police in the southern Indian state of Telangana launched the campaign on 1st January. In the month-long campaign over 300 children were traced or rescued and rehabilitated. Three dedicated teams of police personnel were formed at the Sub-divisional level — one each for Vikarabad, Chevella and Tandur. Various activities were undertaken with respect to the rolling out of “Operation Smile-II”. During this operation, all children residing in shelter homes, platforms, bus stands, roads, religious places, etc. were physically verified by the police personnel, who were given a special orientation on Child Safety, Child-related legislations (various provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) JJ Act, Protection of Child Right Act, relevant sections of Cr.PC & IPC and Advisories issued by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), inter-departmental coordination for rehabilitation etc.
During the Operation Smile, the particulars of such identified children were regularly sent to the Telangana Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and uploaded on the ‘Missing child’ portal of the Ministry of Women and Child Development by the State Police. Rehabilitation measures were taken up in coordination with the other line Departments like Department of Women & Child Development, Education, Labour etc with an aim to reduce the scope of re-victimization. A public awareness campaign was also taken up through social media.
The Tandur Police Team led by Sub Inspector Basheerabad and Child line rescued a girl child Sunitha @ Puja from a couple. They purchased the child in Mumbai for Rs. 250/ only! (One American dollar equals 67.90 Indian Rupees). Sunitha was forced to beg in the streets of Manthati Thanda, Basheerabad Mandal. After the rescue operation, she was sent to protection home and a case was registered against the couple in Cr.No. 1/2016 u/s 363 (A), 372, 373 IPC in Basheerabad Police Station.
PROVIDING ASSISSTANCE TO THE VULNERBALE – THREE ORPHANED GIRLS (KANNADA – SPEAKING) RESCUED FROM GUNJ AREA OF VIKARABAD TOWN : Three girls, whose parents have died in Karnataka State left home and were found begging in Vikarabad. Orphaned and highly vulnerable to abuse, these girls were rescued by Sub Ispector Renuka Reddy and team and rehabilitated in a Protection Home. Efforts are on to trace their immediate relatives.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS IN BRICK KILNS : Of the 142 Child labourers rescued, 55% of them were rescued from brick kilns, where the under – privileged children of migrant labourers were also pushed into hard labour.
ENABLING EDUCATION: In Parigi, Teachers Colony and BC Colony, 21 children between the age group of 6 – 14 years were identified by the Chevella police team. These children had not started their formal school education, as the nearest school is far and means of transportation is scant. Teams coordinated with Mandal Education Officer (MEO), who promised to establish a camp under National Child Labour Project (NCLP) in both the colonies. Work is underway.
ABANDONED INFANT RESCUED/REHABILITATED IN SHISHU GRUHA: A four month-old infant was thrown away by her mother at Jakkepally village, Yalal mandal on 20.01.2016. Operation Smile Team rescued the baby and admitted her in Shishugruha Tandur.
CHILD OF A CONVICT PRISONER REHABILITATED: A five year-old boy named Pichakuntla Pochaiah, a resident of Rehmath Nagar, Tandur was abandoned by his parents as his father has been lodged in Cherlapally Jail and his mother left the village. Since then the boy was looked after by few good samaritan neighbours. Tandur police Team under Sub Inspector Mohammed Khaleel rescued the boy and admitted him in Shishugruha, Tandur on 29.01.2016.
SCHOOL DROPOUTS DOING ODD JOBS AT RAILWAY STATION RESCUED AND ENROLLED IN SCHOOL
FREE MEDICAL CAMP FOR THE RESCUED CHILDREN
The Ranga Reddy district police organized a free medical camp at District Police Head Quarters, Vikarabad with the co-ordination of Indian Medical Association, Vikarabad, Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery, Vikarabad, Dentics Cosmotic Dental Clinics, Masabtank, Hyderabad and Mahveer Hospital, Yennepally for the rescued children in Operation Smile II. Sri V. Naveen Chand IPS, Inspector General of Police, West Zone attended the programme as chief guest.
The Superintendent of Police, Rema Rajeshwari, IPS, gave a presentation on the significance of the Campaign. Sri N. Venkata Swamy, Addl. Superintendent of Police, RR district, SDPOs, DSP DTC, CIs and SIs, other prominent persons attended the programme.
The Indian police in general is having an image makeover with social awareness and people-friendly programmes. The Telangana Police under the Director General of Police Anurag Sharma is marshalling his men well for women’s issues, child rights and social causes too. The declining crime rate, peace and harmony define the newly-carved Telangana State under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.
This article is a special tribute from me to Rema Rajeshwari, IPS, Superintendent of Police, Ranga Reddy, Telangana, India, on the occasion of International Women’s Day for her remarkable achievements in empowering women and saving the girl child. I earnestly hope that Rema Rajeshwari will continue to foster change in society and strive for ‘gender parity’ – the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day. I believe she will continue to instill confidence in female cops, working and non-working-women and college –going girls.
