The Worksite School Project of the Rachakonda Police Commissionerate in Telangana State has won the Smart Police Award for “Child Safety” at the Homeland Security Conference in New Delhi. The project, which was initiated in January 2017, provides basic education to children rescued from hazardous brick kiln industries to protect their rights.
The Director General of Police (DGP) in Telangana, Anjani Kumar, has praised the initiative for its noble cause and its efforts to ensure that rescued children receive an education. The project was shortlisted for the award out of 117 entries received from various organizations, including state police forces and central agencies.
The award ceremony took place on September 15 at the FICCI Federation House in New Delhi. Mahesh M Bhagwat, who initiated the project as the Commissioner of Rachakonda, was honored with the Smart Policing award. In 2017, during Operation Smile, 370 children of migrant workers from Odisha were rescued from brick kilns in the Rachakonda area. As part of their rehabilitation, government classrooms and mid-day meals were provided, and worksite schools were established with the help of various organizations.
These worksite schools operate from January to May each year, and after obtaining an integration certificate, the children return to their native states to continue their education. So far, 6,500 children from Odisha and 55 children from Maharashtra have been rescued and educated through this project.
The project has received recognition from various organizations and individuals, including Nobel Peace laureate Kailash Satyarthi and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The Telangana DGP has commended the Rachakonda Police Commissionerate for bringing honor to the state police force, and Mahesh Bhagwat has acknowledged the contributions of various individuals and organizations involved in the project.
