New Delhi, Nov 14 (IANS): An initiative to rehabilitate the city's child rag pickers was launched here Friday on the occasion of Children's Day and around 40 minors were rescued on the first day.

A joint effort of Delhi Police and NGO Chetna, the initiative was inaugurated by Joint Commissioner of Police Mukesh Kumar Meena, and the children were rescued from Nizamuddin railway station in south Delhi.

According to Sanjay Gupta, director, Chetna, the rescued children will be reunited with their families and provided free education.

"The children will be able to pursue their education through open basic education programme which runs under the aegis of the ministry of human resource development," Gupta said.

"If successful, this initiative will be extended to other railway stations of Delhi and besides education, health check-ups, life skills and extra-curricular activities will also be imparted to the children," Meena said.