Operation Muskaan

Operation Muskaan, also referred to as Operation Smile, was launched in 2014. It was introduced to trace missing children, rescue them, and adequately rehabilitate them. The Ministry of Home Affairs established this operation.

Under this initiative, the Ministry will allocate resources to the police forces of the State to manage the process and rescue these children in need. It was a thoughtful initiative taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs to decrease the rate of human trafficking and kidnapping of children in the country.

Beginning of Operation Muskaan

• The start of the operation is tracked back to Uttar Pradesh.
• The Police Department of Ghaziabad heroically reduced 227 children in under one month in September 2014.
• This brave act inspired people from every corner of the country and gave hope to those parents who lost their children to this malicious and inhumane ring of human trafficking.
• The act of the Ghaziabad Police Force encouraged the Central Ministry to expand Operation Muskan to other parts of the country.
• State police forces had to undergo special training for a month to be prepared for this operation.

More than 100 police officers from varying ranks and levels were appointed to execute this mission. They were given training on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, relevant sections of CrPC & IPC, and the Protection of Child Right Act.

Objectives of Operation Muskaan

• Operation Smile or Muskaan was launched under specific objectives. They are-
• Rescuing and rehabilitating missing children
• Integrating the missions activities with child protection activities of the State
• Optimally build district level as SJPU to combat the issue of missing children.
• Instil coordination of social welfare department functionaries, NGOs, CWCS other similar organizations at the district level as part of the integrated Child protection scheme in the country.

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Activities Under the Operation Muskaan

• Children residing on the streets of railway platforms, roads, etc., will be investigated by trained police personnel. The officers should carefully extract information from the kid without scaring, intimidating them, or making them feel uncomfortable.
• Rehabilitation measures should be taken wherever necessary in coordination with the Police, Department of Women and Child Development, Labour, and Police.
• During this operation, the officer should upload all the details of the identified child on the ‘Missing Child’ portal of the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• Media, advertisements, country-wide campaigns, and other mass media instruments are used to spread public awareness of the initiative.

Operation Muskaan is a thoughtful initiative taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs to decrease the rate of human trafficking and kidnapping of children in the country.

More than 100 police officers from varying ranks and levels were appointed to execute this mission. They were given training on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, relevant sections of CrPC & IPC, and the Protection of Child Right Act.

FAQs on Operation Muskaan

Q.1. How many phases of Operation Muskaan were there?

In total, there were three phases of Operation Muskaan.

Q.2. How many children were rescued in each phase of Operation Muskaan in Jharkhand?

• Operation Muskaan Phase I- 778 children were found/rescued
• Operation Muskaan Phase II- 660 children were found/rescued
• Operation Muskaan Phase III- 484 children were found/rescued

Q.3. How many children were rescued in Andhra Pradesh in 2020?

2774 children were rescued under Operation Muskaan in Andhra Pradesh conducted in January 2020

Q.4. How was Operation Muskaan initiated?

The Ghaziabad police department initiated Operation Muskan.

Q.5. What is the aim of Operation Muskaan?

Operation Muskaan, also known as Operation Smile, aims to find missing children, rescue them, and properly rehabilitate them.