Country-Wide Campaign to Rescue Missing Children

New Delhi: A country-wide campaign to rescue missing children and reunite them with their near and dear ones will be launched for a month beginning the new year day, after a massive success in similar programmes this year.

In a letter to Chief Secretaries of all states, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi said a month-long campaign titled 'Operation Smile' was carried out in January this year to rescue and rehabilitate missing children.

Similarly, another dedicated campaign titled 'Operation Muskan' was launched in July across the country.

The states have so far reported that 9,146 children under 'Operation Smile' and 1,972 children under 'Operation Muskan', were rescued and rehabilitated.

A large number of missing children have been reunited with their families which is a remarkable achievement.

"It is felt that a similar campaign 'Operation Smile-II' from January 1, 2016 to January 31, 2016 be rolled out throughout the country as a follow up of the earlier campaigns to undertake a set of activities," the letter said.

Suggesting effective coordination among various departments like police, women and child development, the Union Home Secretary advised all states to extend all possible cooperation during inter-state rescue operations, to ensure proper provision of availability of food, and clothes.

It was also suggested to provide medical aid, professional translators, psychiatrists and shelter homes for rehabilitation and reintegration well before the rescue operation and to ensure that such operations are conducted in strict compliance of the existing legal provisions.

In order to motivate the policemen to take up such causes with sincerity and empathy, 44 police officers from different states and union territories, who had played a commendable role during 'Operation Smile' were recognised and rewarded by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on October 7.