Gujarat Police rescue 84 child labourers in two weeks, target 5,000 under statewide drive
- Bilkul Online
- Gandhinagar | 16 June 2026
Gujarat Police have rescued 84 child labourers and registered 16 criminal cases against 26 accused persons within the first 14 days of a statewide campaign aimed at cracking down on child labour and exploitation in industrial and commercial establishments. The initiative, named ‘Operation Childhood Freedom’, has been launched under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi with the stated objective of ensuring that children are in school rather than at work. Police said the operation is being carried out across industrial areas, business establishments and other units suspected of employing minors.
Children found working at such locations are being rescued, and employers are being prosecuted under relevant laws. Director General of Police (DGP) G.S. Malik said the campaign extends beyond enforcement action and focuses on the long-term welfare of rescued children. “Our campaign is not limited to conducting raids. We are also ensuring the rehabilitation of rescued children and helping them start a new life,” DGP Malik said. According to the police, 67 of the 84 rescued children have already been rehabilitated. Authorities are also facilitating their enrolment in schools and have conducted 160 awareness programmes across the state as part of the campaign.
One of the recent rescue operations was carried out by Kamrej Police in Surat after receiving specific information about child labour at a textile unit identified as Jay Ambe Textiles. Two children were rescued from the factory. Preliminary investigations found that the children were allegedly being paid only about Rs 200 a day and were made to work from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. with a one-hour lunch break. Police alleged that the children faced physical, mental and economic exploitation and that coercive methods were used if they refused to work. A criminal case has been registered against the person accused of employing them. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Ajay Chaudhary of the Crime Investigation Department’s (Women Cell) said child labour cases were being detected in textile units, hotels, rice mills and small-scale industries. “Many of the rescued children had been brought from Bihar and Rajasthan, and investigators were also examining possible child trafficking links in such cases,” he said.
Police officials said the operation would not be confined to prosecuting factory owners and employers. Investigators are also focusing on contractors and supply-chain networks that facilitate the recruitment and movement of child labourers. According to a preliminary assessment by the police, poverty, migration and the demand for cheap labour remain among the principal factors driving child labour. Authorities said they would continue to work with the Labour Department, Child Welfare Committees, educational institutions and voluntary organisations to address the issue. As part of the ongoing campaign, Gujarat Police plan to inspect more than 50,000 locations across the state and have set a target of rescuing over 5,000 child labourers. Awareness efforts are also being undertaken to educate traders and factory owners about child labour laws and the importance of schooling for children.
