New Delhi: In a significant step towards strengthening India’s fight against human trafficking, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the National Commission for Women (NCW) renewed their partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
A Strategic Collaboration for Safer Railways
The MoU, signed by Shivani Dey, Deputy Secretary, NCW, and S. Sudhakar, DIG/Projects, RPF, aims to bolster the capacity of RPF personnel in tackling human trafficking and other crimes against women across India’s vast railway network. The partnership underscores the vital role of Indian Railways as the first line of defence in safeguarding vulnerable individuals, especially women and children, in transit.
Minister Vaishnaw shared the development on social media, noting that this collaborative step would provide targeted training and support to RPF officers to address trafficking more effectively. He also launched a special booklet on anti-human trafficking practices, prepared by NCW, as a guiding resource for law enforcement and awareness campaigns.
Ground-Level Impact and Nationwide Reach
Chairperson of NCW, Vijaya Rahatkar, emphasized the critical nature of this initiative, highlighting that human trafficking remains one of the worst human rights violations. She noted that women and girls are disproportionately affected, and praised the RPF’s efforts in detecting, intervening, and rescuing victims.
Over the past four and a half years, the RPF has successfully rescued more than 65,000 trafficked and runaway children from across the country. These rescues stand as a testament to the vigilance and nationwide coordination enabled by RPF’s on-ground teams and the operational scale of Indian Railways.
Commitment From the Top
RPF Director General Manoj Yadava reiterated the organisation’s commitment, stating that Indian Railways has both the opportunity and the obligation to act as a critical deterrent against trafficking. He said the renewed MoU would sharpen operational readiness while also expanding outreach to communities most at risk.
Under this agreement, the RPF and NCW will jointly conduct structured training programs, launch sensitization campaigns, and strengthen public awareness initiatives through printed materials displayed at railway stations and inside trains. Importantly, existing Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) at over 750 railway locations will be further activated to enhance surveillance and provide rapid response in suspected cases.
This institutional collaboration highlights a shared national vision of zero tolerance towards human trafficking and reinforces Indian Railways’ evolving role in supporting social justice and human dignity.
