Guwahati, 15 June (HS): World Anti Child Labour day is celebrated every year on June 12, with the aim of spreading awareness about the elimination of child labour and ensuring education to all children. This day was started by the International Labor Organization (ILO) in 2002. Despite legal provisions in India, child labour continues to this day due to reasons such as poverty, illiteracy and inequality and it is often seen on the railway network, where children live, work or travel in unsafe conditions.
Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) CPRO Kapinjal Kishore Sharma on Sunday informed that the Railway Protection Force (RPF) under the Ministry of Railways is playing an active role in rescuing and protecting such vulnerable children. Under the Nanhe Farishte initiative, the RPF has rescued 61,345 children from the year 2021 to April 2025. These include minors travelling alone, child victims of trafficking, or children found begging and in distress.
The RPF has effectively addressed several issues such as child trafficking, kidnapping, drug abuse and medical emergencies through intensive surveillance, intelligence mechanisms and escorting in trains. From the year 2021 till date, 649 human traffickers have been arrested and 2719 people have been rescued, including 2456 children and 263 male-female adults.
To strengthen action against child trafficking, the RPF has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the ‘Bachpan Bachao Andolan’ founded by Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi, under which joint actions, awareness programmes and coordinated rescues are being carried out.
To strengthen the response at the ground level, RPF has set up more than 750 Anti Human Trafficking Units and 135 Child Help Desks, and 212 more desks are planned to be set up by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. These desks act as primary support centres, providing the rescued children access to rehabilitation services through Child Welfare Committees. Updated Standard Operating Procedures in line with the Juvenile Justice Act and Mission Vatsalya ensure a structured approach to child protection by RPF and Railway staff.
In line with RPF’s vision “Our Mission: Prevent Child Trafficking in Trains”, Indian Railways is committed to transform railway premises into a safe and hopeful environment, so that every rescued child can embark on a journey towards freedom, care and a better future.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash
