New Delhi: The safety of women and children remains a top priority for the government. While appreciating the significant contributions of Indian Railways in making rail travel safe for women and children, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has assured the Railways that funding will not be a constraint in its efforts to enhance security for these groups. In a landmark initiative to protect vulnerable children found on railway premises nationwide, Railway Protection Force (RPF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development, launched an updated Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) at Rail Bhawan in New Delhi on 25 October 2024. This comprehensive SOP outlines a robust framework for safeguarding children who come into contact with Indian Railways.
During the launch of the SOP, Anil Malik, Secretary, MoWCD, praised Indian Railways for its initiatives to enhance the safety and security of juveniles through measures like installing CCTV and face recognition technology at upgraded railway stations. With over 2.3 crore passengers travelling by rail each day, including 30 percent women—many of whom travel alone—there is a pressing need to protect vulnerable groups, especially juveniles who risk exploitation by human traffickers. At the event, the RPF briefed MoWCD officials on the importance of reinforcing Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) and urged states such as Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh to establish these units at their railway stations to prevent trafficking and enhance passenger safety.
RPF is taking a proactive role to ensure that its premises are not used by human traffickers. RPF has rescued 57,564 children in the last five years from trafficking, 18,172 of whom were girls. Additionally, the force ensured that 80 percent of these children were reunited with their families. Under ‘Operation Nanhe Farishte,’ RPF has introduced a series of focused initiatives to secure the safety of children throughout the railway network. Recognising the persistent challenge of child trafficking, RPF’s “Operation AAHT” has also been instrumental in rescuing over 2,300 children and apprehending 674 traffickers since 2022, reflecting RPF's dedication to combating trafficking and exploitation.
To safeguard vulnerable children nationwide, AHTUs were planned to be set up at approximately 262 stations across the country. However, due to a lack of cooperation from certain Indian states, these units have not yet been established in some areas. The Secretary, MoWCD, has agreed to address this issue by reaching out to these states, urging the establishment of AHTUs. The Ministry will send letters to the state governments and District Magistrates to set up these units at railway stations, enhancing the efforts of RPF to protect children and prevent trafficking.
The Railways is also running “Operation Meri Saheli” to protect single women travelling on trains. Appreciating RPF's contributions in anti-human trafficking efforts, the Secretary, MoWCD, confirmed that the Ministry is prepared to fund projects aimed at protecting women. The Government of India has established the Nirbhaya Fund to support initiatives that enhance the safety and security of women across the country. Funds from the Nirbhaya scheme can be allocated to install CCTV cameras and face recognition systems in railway stations to reduce crimes against women.
Looking ahead, Indian Railways and MoWCD announced the expansion of Child Help Desks (CHDs) at major railway stations to strengthen the support network available to children in need. Additional initiatives and collaborative strategies to ensure the well-being of both children and women within railway premises were also discussed.
With the release of a new slogan for RPF, "Our Mission: Prevent Child Trafficking on Trains," Indian Railways has reaffirmed its commitment to creating a safe travel experience for all. The revised SOP incorporates lessons learned over the past decade in dealing with human traffickers. It reflects a dedicated commitment to creating a protective, compassionate environment across the railway network, with RPF DG highlighting that child welfare remains central to the new SOP.
The enhanced SOP reinforces Indian Railways’ commitment to preventing child exploitation and trafficking by providing a safety net for at-risk children who may have been separated from their families. Originally rolled out in 2015 under the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act and updated in 2021, this SOP has now been further refined in alignment with MoWCD's 2022 “Mission Vatsalya.” It details the roles and responsibilities of railway personnel to identify, assist, and properly document children until they are connected with the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).
Director General, RPF, Manoj Yadava, emphasised that RPF’s approach aligns closely with the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, while addressing the pressing need for child protection in railway premises. Satish Kumar, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board; Anil Malik, Secretary of MoWCD; Ravinder Goyal, Member of Operations & Business Development of the Railway Board, and other senior officials from both Ministries attended the SOP launch event.
BI Bureau
