The State police administration has geared up to implement ‘Operation Smile’ in the State from January 1 to trace out missing children in the State.
Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjiv Marik had a videoconferencing with the district Superintendents of Police (SPs) on Monday in this connection. “I have asked the district SPs for effective implementation of the programme as per the directive of the Supreme Court. We have already imparted training to one police officer in the rank of Inspector in each district,” Marik said.
It may be mentioned that the Union Home secretary Anil Goswami, in a letter to all State Chief Secretaries last week, had asked them to implement Operation Smile. As per the letter, a month-long dedicated campaign for the operation would begin in the country from January 1 to 31 next year. During the campaign, the trained police officers would identify the children staying in shelters, bus stands, roadside shops and religious places.
The trained police officers who have imparted training on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, Juvenile Justice Act, Protection of Child Rights Act and guidelines issued by the Supreme Court and the Union Home Ministry would take the photograph of these children and if necessary, video recording of these children would also be made.
The detailed list of missing children in the State would be uploaded on the website of the Union Women and Child Development Ministry which will be shared with the media later so that families and the concerned police officers would be able to get detailed information about these children.