800 rescued from workplaces in Karnataka child labour crackdown

Hundreds of children allegedly engaged in labour at establishments across Karnataka were rescued on Saturday during a statewide special drive, officials said. The operation covered 38 police units, with teams checking 16,951 premises in districts across the state and starting legal action against those accused of employing children.Police said 800 children were rescued in the drive, which was launched after Chief Minister D K Shivakumar directed officials to identify child labourers across Karnataka. The direction came after he found children working during his recent visit to the APMC Yard in Bengaluru.According to police, Bengaluru accounted for 503 of the rescues during special drives carried out by teams from the 12 divisions of the City Police on the instructions of City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh. Police said 18 cases were registered against shop owners in Bengaluru for engaging children at their establishments.The objective of the drive was to prevent child labour and identify and rescue children engaged in such work. Data shared by the Chief Minister's Office showed that 13 children were rescued in Mysuru city, 10 in Hubballi-Dharwad, three in Mangaluru, 22 in Kalaburagi and nine in Bengaluru Rural. In a post on X, Shivakumar said, "Every child deserves a childhood filled with learning, safety and the freedom to dream." Recalling his September 8 visit to the Yeshwanthpur APMC market in Bengaluru, he said he was deeply concerned to learn that children below 14 were being employed at some shops. "I immediately directed the officials to take strict action, leading to the rescue of 19 children. Four FIRs have also been registered against the shop owners," he said.The chief minister said the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, is clear in its purpose. "We will ensure that it is enforced firmly. No child should be made to work when they should be in school, learning and growing. Our government will continue to do everything necessary to protect their rights and secure a better future for our children," Shivakumar added. Police said the rescued children in Bengaluru included 63 from Central division, 54 from South, 84 from West, 62 from North, 17 from Southwest, 14 from Northwest, 71 from East, 55 from Northeast, 13 from Southeast, three from Electronic City, 22 from Whitefield and 45 from Central Crime Branch jurisdiction limits. Teams led by officers and comprising labour inspectors checked godowns, market places, hotels, lodges, bakeries, bus stops, railway stations, apartments and construction sites across police station limits in the state.In a statement, the Bengaluru Commissioner of Police's office said 5,897 premises were checked in the city and 503 children engaged in labour were rescued. It said 18 cases were registered against shop owners under the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act and the Juvenile Justice Act, and further investigation is in progress. Overall, the drive led to the rescue of 800 children across Karnataka as the state stepped up action against child labour.- EndsWith PTI inputsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Sep 12, 2026 23:04 IST