The report, “‘Operation Smile’: police trace missing children” (some editions, Jan.5), on how the police have formed teams for ‘Operation Smile,’ an initiative to trace children reported missing in the district police limits in the last 10 years, may be a good and worthwhile initiative, but the general public should be aware that there is an international project that goes by the same name and whose purpose is entirely different.
The international project seeks to help children with facial deformities by using corrective medicine and surgery and bringing back a “smile” to their faces and life. The Indian branch of the project is called “Operation Smile – India”. It holds medical camps, engaging eminent local and international doctors and health-care officials to offer free humanitarian service, especially to the poor and needy. Though the objectives of both these projects are noble, their sharing a name will only cause confusion.
Adidas Jacob,Nagercoil
