The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), a body that works under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, has announced that it rescued more than 3,800 children from child labour during a three-month nationwide campaign. The operation ran from mid-June to the end of August 2026 and involved coordination with state governments, district officials, labour departments and police across the country.
Campaign Details and Results
The NCPCR launched the “Pan-India Rescue and Rehabilitation” Campaign on 12 June 2026, continuing until 31 August 2026. During this period, the commission worked with state and union territory administrations, District Magistrates, Labour Departments and law enforcement to identify and rescue children engaged in child labour and those at risk of trafficking.
The campaign achieved the following outcomes:
- Over 3,800 children were rescued
- More than 575 First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered
To execute the campaign, the NCPCR directed authorities to conduct targeted operations at known child labour and trafficking locations. States and union territories were asked to provide regular updates on rescue numbers, cases filed, rehabilitation measures, educational placement and compensation provided to rescued children. The NCPCR also held meetings with district administrations to review progress, resolve operational problems and improve coordination between different government departments involved in the effort.
The campaign included public awareness activities through social media and other channels to inform people about reporting child labour cases and the importance of rehabilitating and educating children after rescue.
What This Means for You
If you come across children working instead of attending school, you now know that authorities are actively running rescue operations. Cases involving child labour are being taken seriously, with criminal charges filed in over 575 instances during this campaign alone. Children who are rescued receive rehabilitation support and are helped to return to school or receive vocational training, rather than being simply released back into difficult situations.