Bengaluru Police rescue 503 child labourers:Raids at over 5,000 places, 18 FIRs; report claims 18 lakh child labour cases in India

A special drive against child labour in Bengaluru on Saturday led to the rescue of 503 children. Teams from 12 police divisions inspected 5,897 locations. During the drive, 18 cases were registered against shopkeepers for employing children. The campaign was conducted on the instructions of Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh. Its aim was to prevent child labour and identify and rescue children found working. UNICEF claims that India still has more than 1.8 million cases of child labour. Places inspected According to police, teams were formed to conduct inspections in all police station areas across the city. Police officers and labour inspectors were part of these teams. The teams inspected warehouses, markets, hotels, lodges, bakeries, bus stops, railway stations, apartments and construction sites. Police said 18 cases were registered against shopkeepers who employed children following the drive. What happens to children after rescue? Safe shelter: The children are immediately placed in shelter homes. Free education: They are directly enrolled in government schools according to their age. Skill training (14+ years): Older children are given vocational training so they can earn a livelihood in the future. Financial assistance: The fine recovered from the guilty employer is deposited into the child’s account, and the family is linked to government welfare schemes. ​