The Operation Mukti, an initiative of Uttarakhand Police, seems to have faltered after its trial run in Dehradun. Though some of the children found begging were enrolled in schools at that time, the lack of follow up and the indifference of the departments concerned towards them has resulted in the street children coming back on the streets. These children can once again be seen selling balloons or bubble makers as they did earlier in places like near Gandhi Park, Astley Hall and Saharanpur Chowk.

Director General (Law and Order) Ashok Kumar said, “It is unfortunate. We had tried to give them alternative so that these children can also lead a better life. If children are on the street, begging or doing any type of commercial activity which is a risk for their life, legal actions will be taken against their parents.”

A social activist on the condition of anonymity said, “We had been saying from the beginning that the initiative of police department though commendable, cannot be sustainable in the long term. Other stakeholders such as Childline, Child Welfare Committee, State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights and Education department should also come forward and take this forward. Similarly, the many non-governmental organisations which were part of this entire programme should also be held responsible for failing in keeping the promises of bright future they made to these children.”

He further stated, “The police department and all the other stakeholders involved basked in the glory of compliments that were showered on them by local media, but the truth is that like every other government initiative this campaign also has failed. The biggest flaw in the entire campaign was that these children, who are accustomed to earn and feed themselves, were asked to leave that independence and study. No matter how unfortunate the entire system is these children should have been provided with an alternate medium to earn simultaneously.”

It is pertinent to mention here that presently Operation Mukti is ongoing in Haridwar district. It is also important to mention here that in the month of July, when the campaign was being concluded in Dehradun, Director General of Police (DGP) Anil K Raturi had stated that the police along with various other stakeholders will keep a check on the progress of these children. However, now it appears they have abandoned their plans.