New Delhi: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has rescued 1,012 children from various railway stations in the first four months of 2019.
The security force has focused on live rescue operations which helped them in reuniting children with their families.
The RPF official said that if the parents or relatives are not traced, they handover the kids to NGOs.
The RPF data accessed by Millennium Post revealed that till April, as many as 637 children were rescued from the jurisdiction of New Delhi railway station.
"Around 190 kids were rescued in Old Delhi railway stations. From Nizamuddin-52 kids, Anand Vihar-50, Sarai Rohilla-49 and from other stations-34 children were rescued," RPF data further revealed.
Senior Divisional Security Commissioner (Coordination) Dr AN Jha said," RPF, in association with NGOs and children welfare committee, look out for trafficked or runaway children and reunite them with their families. For the safety of kids, we are always alert ."
Senior Divisional Security Commissioner Rajiv Kumar told that after receiving information about any child roaming or found in abandoned condition at railway station, they quickly reach the spot to rescue the kid.
" Later, after detailed verification, we reunite the child with family. Also, child help desks are available in various railway stations," said Rajiv Kumar.
Another RPF official stated that they are also involved in live rescue operations.
"If we get the information through helpline number or social media regarding children seen on a particular train, they quickly coordinate with their nearest RPF post and make sure that the train is thoroughly searched. There are cases where children rescued in few hours in live rescue," said an official.
In one of the cases reported in last year, the team of ASC NDLS Harish Singh Papola rescued a girl from a train in few hours after her father informed them.
The RPF data further revealed that in 2016, as many as 3,027 children were rescued whereas in 2017-1,961 and 2018-3,227 children were rescued by RPF.
According to officials, after getting scolded from parents/relatives, kids run away from their native homes and reach Delhi through train.
In the city, these kids are clueless about their whereabouts, have no idea about their future and no place to go. In some cases, children were also kidnapped or
trafficked.