What is Operation Smile-X of Telangana?

In January, 2024 a total of 3,479 child labourers were rescued from across the Telangana State through Operation Smile-X, a month-long operation organised by the Telangana police. The State police carries out this operation in January every year to trace and rescue missing and trafficked children.

• In January 2024, Operation Smile-X rescued a total of 3,479 child labourers across Telangana
• The operation is organized annually in January by the Telangana police to trace and rescue missing and trafficked children
• The Cyberabad police alone rescued 718 children – 301 boys and 28 girls from within the state; 360 boys and 29 girls belonged to other states
• Most children were rescued from child labour (640), but one missing child was also rescued by the Cyberabad police. Seven missing children were rescued at the state level.

The police worked in coordination with the departments of Women Development and Child Welfare, Labour and Health; Child Welfare Committees; District Child Protection Units; and NGOs to identify ‘black spots’, where children were found in vulnerable conditions, according to a press release.