Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel in Eastern Railway had rescued 650 children in 2016. Of them, 251 were reunited with their parents. The rest were sent to various NGOs, police or GRP.
RPF also launched a special campaign, Operation Muskaan-II, to rescue the missing children. As many as 71 children, including three trafficked youngsters, were rescued.
Child Help Groups have been established at Howrah and Sealdah stations. Two Child Help Desks of Child Line NGO by Don Bosco Ashalayam and one NGO called Little Big Help are functioning at Howrah railway station (in the old complex and new complex respectively). Similarly, a Child Help Desk monitored by Cini Asha NGO is functioning at Sealdah Railway station. A Child Help Group will be set up at Malda station shortly.
The Security Help Line 182 is functioning round-the-clock in RPF Divisional Control Rooms all over Eastern Railway. Security-related grievances are attended to quickly, either by the nearest RPF Post or by Train Escorting Parties and followed up to their logical conclusion. The average response time taken to attend to each complaint is 20 to 25 minutes. During 2016, a total of 397 complaints were received and settled.
To create awareness among passengers about Security Help Line 182, pamphlets were distributed to travellers. Stickers were also affixed at prominent places at stations as well as in trains. Banners were displayed at different stations. Electronic display boards and CCTVs were also utilised. RPF teams are visiting different schools and colleges regularly to spread awareness about the helpline. They are also distributing leaflets.
Announcements about Security Help Line 182 are regularly made in Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains and other railway stations across the Eastern Railway system.