Hyderabad: As part of Operation Muskaan-XI, Rachakonda Police conducted an awareness session on child labour at a construction site in LB Nagar, targeting workers, contractors, masons, and supervisors.
The drive was held under the directions of Commissioner G. Sudheer Babu, IPS, and Addl. DCP Md. Shakir Hussain, with support from the Anti Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) and Childline LB Nagar. AHTU sub-inspectors K. Ramulu, Md. Khaleel Ahmed, and Mahesh led the session, attended by more than 300 participants.
At the awareness session, Sub-Inspector K. Ramulu didn’t mince words. Hiring children under 14 for any kind of work or anyone under 18 for hazardous jobs is not just unethical, he said, it’s a crime under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act of 1986.
He reminded workers that beyond breaking the law, child labour causes deep, long-term damage to a child’s health, safety, and future. “We’re not just talking about missed school,” he said. “We’re talking about lost childhoods.”
The session aimed to drive that message home, especially among construction site workers. Officials spoke about the legal risks, but also the moral obligation to protect kids from exploitative conditions. They encouraged everyone present to report violations and do their part to ensure children get what they deserve an education, a safe environment, and a fair shot at life.