New Delhi: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the National Commission for Women (NCW) have renewed their collaboration to combat human trafficking, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, who announced the development on social media, highlighting the goal of enhancing RPF personnel’s ability to prevent trafficking and other crimes against women.
The agreement was signed by Shivani Dey, Deputy Secretary, NCW, and S Sudhakar, DIG/Projects, RPF. A special anti-human trafficking booklet prepared by the NCW was also released during the event.
Vijaya Rahatkar, Chairperson of NCW, addressed the gathering, stating, “Human trafficking continues to be one of the gravest human rights violations, with women and girls being the most frequent targets.” She acknowledged the important role played by RPF, saying, “The RPF’s efforts in early detection and intervention are commendable,” and noted, “The painstaking nationwide efforts of the RPF in rescuing trafficked and lost/runaway children from across the country has led to the rescue of more than 65,000 such children over the past four and a half years.”
Director General of RPF, Manoj Yadava, expressed the force’s continued commitment, saying, “Indian Railways, with its extensive reach, has both the opportunity and responsibility to serve as a frontline deterrent against trafficking. The partnership with NCW will further sharpen the force’s operational response and community outreach.”
As part of the renewed MoU, RPF personnel will undergo structured training and sensitisation programmes. Public awareness drives, including the distribution of informational material at railway stations and inside trains, are also planned. The force will continue to rely on Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs), which are already functioning at over 750 locations, to maintain vigilance and ensure swift response in suspected cases.
The collaboration signals a focused, coordinated approach to safeguarding vulnerable sections of society through the country’s vast rail network.
BI Bureau
