In a two-hour statewide crackdown on child labour, police teams and Labour Department officials inspected 16,951 premises across Karnataka and rescued 800 children, with Bengaluru city alone accounting for 503 of the rescues. The operation, conducted between 10 a.m. and noon across 962 police stations, targeted markets, eateries, workshops, construction sites, garages, welding shops, and small industrial establishments. The action followed Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s directive after a surprise visit to the APMC Yard in Yeshwantpur, where officials found 19 children working on the premises.

Bengaluru recorded the highest number of rescues, with 503 children rescued from 5,897 premises across 188 police station limits. A total of 18 cases were registered under the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, and the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. The rescued children, who hailed from Karnataka, Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, and Nepal, were primarily employed in hotels, restaurants, petrol pumps, grocery stores, and warehouses due to their lower wage requirements, according to Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh.

Vijayapura district reported the second-highest number of rescues, with 72 children rescued after inspections at 1,156 premises. The district reported 25 instances of action, including three FIRs. Tumakuru district rescued 33 children from 660 premises. Notably, no child labourers were rescued in KGF, Mysuru, Mandya, Davangere, Hassan, Shivamogga, Uttara Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, Gadag, and Raichur districts during the operation. The rescued children have been handed over to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for rehabilitation.

A senior officer involved in the operation explained that the rescue operation was categorized under hazardous and non-hazardous occupations. In cases involving hazardous employment, FIRs were registered against the employers. Employers found engaging children in non-hazardous work were issued notices. The rescued children, however, remain in the care of the CWC, with no further details provided on their rehabilitation process or long-term support.

The operation highlights the ongoing challenge of child labour in Karnataka, particularly in urban areas like Bengaluru, where economic pressures and informal employment practices contribute to the exploitation of children. While the crackdown represents a significant step in addressing the issue, the lack of information on follow-up measures and systemic solutions raises questions about the sustainability of such efforts.

The evidence does not provide details on the number of children who remain in exploitative situations or the effectiveness of the CWC in providing long-term rehabilitation. Additionally, the absence of data on the number of children who were previously rescued but re-entered the workforce underscores the complexity of eradicating child labour. The operation, while commendable, underscores the need for sustained efforts and systemic reforms to address the root causes of child labour in Karnataka.