Operation Nanhe Faristey

Source: PIB
GS III: Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

Overview

Why in the News?

During September 2023, RPF rescued 895 Children (Boys-573 & Girl-322) under Operation ‘Nanhe Faristey’

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is entrusted with the responsibility of security of railway property, passenger areas and passengers.
The force has been working round the clock to provide a safe, secure and comfortable travel experience to the passengers.
It helps Indian Railways in providing safe freight transport service to its customers.
RPF has ably discharged the responsibility of protecting of huge assets of railways spread throughout the country by taking preventive security measures and making efforts to detect crimes against railway property as and when they occur.

RPF plays an important role in reuniting the children lost/separated due to several reasons from their families.
In this regard, operation Nanhe Faristey was launched on Indian Railways.
Under this drive, more than 895 Children (Boys-573 & Girls) in need of care & protection who came in contact with Indian Railways in the month of September 2023 were rescued.
They are handed over to concerned authorities before being restored to their families.

To act against Human traffickers, Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTU) of RPF are operational at the Post level (Thana level) over the Indian Railways.
AHTUs are in regular touch with agencies and NGOs involved in preventing human trafficking.
They have assisted them in the rescue of children being trafficked.
During the month of September 2023, 29 persons were rescued from the clutches of traffickers with the arrest of 14 traffickers.

Alerting and swift action by RPF, the lives of 265 passengers were saved by Team RPF.
These rescued people had come close to getting run over by trains, at platforms and railway tracks.

405 nos. of the touts were arrested.
Legal action was taken against them as per law and future tickets valued at Rs. 36.43 lacs were seized.

Redress security-related complaints of passengers in distress and for immediate assistance, passengers can make complaints on the Rail Madad Portal or through helpline No. 139

UN Convention: India has ratified the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organised Crime (UNCTOC) which has as one of its Protocols the Prevention, Suppression and Punishment of Trafficking in Persons, particularly Women and Children.
SAARC Convention: India has ratified the SAARC Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution.

84119 Children rescued by RPF

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