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Maligaon, June 15 (MExN): As the world marked the World Day Against Child Labour on June 12, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) reiterated its commitment to safeguarding children across India’s railway network through proactive surveillance, rescue operations and collaboration with child rights organisations.
Since 2021, the RPF has rescued 61,345 children under its “Nanhe Farishte” initiative, targeting vulnerable minors found alone, trafficked, begging, or in distress across railway premises.
In a statement, the Northeast Frontier Railway said the RPF has also arrested 649 traffickers and rescued 2,719 individuals, including 2,456 children and 263 adults, between 2021 and April 2025. These efforts are complemented by intensified train escorting, intelligence operations and platform vigilance.
A key development in strengthening child protection efforts was the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Bachpan Bachao Andolan, founded by Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi. The partnership focuses on joint operations, coordinated rescues, and public awareness to combat child trafficking.
To enhance ground-level response, more than 750 Anti-Human Trafficking Units and 135 Child Help Desks have been established by the RPF, with an additional 212 desks proposed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. These desks serve as first points of contact for rescued children and link them to rehabilitation pathways via Child Welfare Committees.
Updated Standard Operating Procedures, aligned with the Juvenile Justice Act and Mission Vatsalya, guide RPF personnel and railway staff in handling such cases with sensitivity and structure.
“Despite the legal safeguards in place, poverty, illiteracy, and inequality continue to fuel child labour in India, often manifesting visibly in the railway ecosystem,” the release said.
With its stated mission of preventing child trafficking on trains, the RPF reaffirmed Indian Railways’ vision of transforming vulnerable spaces into safer environments. “Every rescued child is the beginning of a journey towards freedom, care and a better future,” it added.
