TSCPCR Calls for Year-Round Child Labor Enforcement Ahead of Operation Muskaan

The Telangana State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (TSCPCR) has called for a transition from temporary rescue drives to year-round enforcement and stronger rehabilitation measures, ahead of the launch of the annual month-long child rescue drive, Operation Muskaan, on Wednesday. The commission highlighted the necessity of continuous monitoring, particularly in key focus areas including Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medchal-Malkajgiri, Sangareddy, Khammam, and Bhadradri Kothagudem districts.

TSCPCR member Chandana Marripalli stated that while the state has rescued thousands of children through Operation Smile in January and Operation Muskaan in July, the lack of regular inspections and weak rehabilitation follow-ups undermine long-term efforts. During the Operation Muskaan-11 drive in July 2025, authorities rescued 7,678 children across Telangana. According to Ms. Marripalli, rapid urbanisation and a construction boom across Hyderabad and neighbouring districts continue to drive the employment of children at construction sites.

The commission argued that the current twice-a-year enforcement model is predictable, allowing employers to temporarily hide children during active drives and re-engage them afterward. To address this loophole, the TSCPCR has called for monthly surprise inspections and fully functional district-level task force committees. These task forces, comprising officials from the Police, Labour, Women and Child Welfare, and Education departments, are mandated in all 35 districts but remain non-functional in many areas.

The commission also highlighted a lack of transparency regarding the legal outcomes of rescue cases, noting that there is little public information on completed investigations, FIR convictions, or whether rescued children return to work.

To ensure long-term rehabilitation, the TSCPCR recommended that every rescued child receive an individual rehabilitation plan monitored for at least two years. This would track school enrolment, family circumstances, and access to welfare schemes. Ms. Marripalli noted that economic rehabilitation of families is crucial, as persistent poverty and migration often force children back into labor.

Additionally, the commission called for stronger legal action against employers, the recovery of unpaid wages for rescued children, and better inter-state coordination to safely repatriate and monitor migrant children from other states.