The Railway Protection Force (RPF) ensures protection and security of Railway property. RPF has also been entrusted with the responsibility of security of railway passengers, their belongings as well as railway passenger area. The RPF carries on an unrelenting fight against criminals in protecting railway passengers, remains vigilant to prevent trafficking of women & children and takes appropriate action to rehabilitate destitute children found in Railway areas. A dedicated campaign to trace and rescue missing children with their families ‘Operation Nanhe Faristey’ launched on Indian Railways aims to rescue children in need of care and protection found in trains/railway station.
According to a press release issued by Sumit Thakur, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, RPF undertakes the noble cause of identifying and rescuing children who are lost/separated from their family due to various reasons. In this very direction, an intensive campaign viz. ‘Operation Nanhe Faristey’ has been launched on Indian Railways to rescue children in need of care and protection found in trains/railway station and this is showing remarkable results.
During the year 2023, more than 850 such children were rescued by RPF personnel, out of which 508 were boys and 279 girls. The children rescued over Mumbai Division were 313, 74 in Vadodara Division, 125 in Ahmedabad Division, 188 in Ratlam Division, 121 in Rajkot Division and 35 in Bhavnagar Division.
Thakur further stated that after rescue of child they are handed over to nominated NGO with the permission of Child Welfare Committee. In this regard several workshop, video conference organized and details instruction of circular have been briefed to the RPF staff for awareness and to ensure care and protection of children in contact with railways. To curb the menace of Human Trafficking, 77 Anti Trafficking units are formed over Western Railway. Besides, all the Divisions are regularly conducting meetings with the concern authorities of state and central.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has also been signed by Railways with Bachpan Bachao Andolan to eradicate the menace of child trafficking in trains. In this regard, Railways have displayed stickers & posters in coaches of trains for sensitization public & creating awareness for prevention of child trafficking.
In two different incidents, 7 children were found travelling in the general coach of a train at Nandurbar railway station without any guardian. on being asked, they said they had run from their native Bihar to earn a livelihood. The children were sent to the child care home. In the other case, 04 children were seen roaming on the platform at Surat. on being questioned the children admitted to running from home as their parents were attending a Satsang at Surat. Their parents were called & children handed over to there with proper verification process by RPF/Udhna Post.
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