Coordination works: RPF helps more children find their way back home

The coordination between the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and the Railway Protection seems to be finally bringing results on the ground, or rather the platforms.

The Railway Protection Force unit under Western Railway has till October this year rescued and reunited 383 kids found at railway stations and trains between Churchgate and Surat. This number comprises 241 boys and 142 girls, according to RPF statistics. This is a substantial rise from the 97 children—comprising 63 boys and 34 girls—rescued in 2015 by the force. On Central Railway, the RPF unit of Mumbai division has so far rescued 124 children, up from 88 in 2015 and 43 in 2014.

It was in March, 2015 that the railway ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development and National Commission on Protection of Child Rights issued a Standing Operating Procedure (SOP) for the purpose of rescuing and reuniting runaway children found at railway stations. Twenty large stations across the country were chosen for this SOP. In Mumbai, CST and Mumbai Central both large termini, were chosen. In January this year, the RPF personnel in Mumbai got a two-day session on the SOP at the hands of experts from the NCPCR. This team was then entrusted with training other colleagues till the entire force was sensitised to the task at hand, said officials.

Last year, the RPF was awarded the 'Service of Excellence' award by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for the work done by the paramilitary unit in rescuing children who had run away from their homes and found at stations.