A one-day workshop on “Anti-Human Trafficking” was jointly organized by the National Commission for Women (NCW), New Delhi, and the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Bengaluru Division, at the Karnataka State Government Employees Association Auditorium, Cubbon Park, Bengaluru, today.
The workshop aimed to sensitize and train key stakeholders in preventing, detecting, and responding to human trafficking, with a special emphasis on the pivotal role of the Railways in combating this grave social issue.
The event was inaugurated by V. Somanna, Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti. In his inaugural address, he underscored the need to conduct similar awareness workshops in all major cities. He commended the RPF’s dedicated efforts not only in ensuring passenger safety but also in rescuing victims of human trafficking through the railway network. Somanna also appreciated the success of initiatives such as ‘Operation Meri Saheli’, which focuses on the safety of women passengers traveling alone or with children.
Smt. Vijaya K. Rahatkar, Chairperson, National Commission for Women, delivered the keynote address. She lauded the Indian Railways’ commitment to curbing human trafficking and highlighted the MoU signed between NCW and Indian Railways to jointly address this issue. As part of this collaboration, such workshops are being held across the country to strengthen awareness and action. She emphasized the four core principles to effectively combat human trafficking Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, and Partnership and commended the RPF’s proactive measures, including ‘Operation Matrushakti’, which provides assistance to pregnant women in labour during train journeys.
The event also featured addresses by Sudeep Jain, Member Secretary, NCW, and Praveen Kataraki, Additional Divisional Railway Manager, Bengaluru Division. Louis Amuthan, DIG/RPF/South Western Railway, welcomed the gathering, while K. James, Divisional Security Commissioner, RPF/Bengaluru Division, proposed the vote of thanks.
The workshop included expert-led sessions by Mahesh Bhagwat, ADGP/Telangana; Smt. Shantala Bhat, Member, Advisory Committee, NCW; and Smt. Nistha Dubey, Senior Advisor, ACT, Pune. The sessions covered various aspects of human trafficking such as legal frameworks, victim identification, rehabilitation measures, and the need for inter-agency coordination.
The workshop saw active participation from RPF personnel, Station Masters, Ticket Examiners, GRP officials, and representatives of NGOs working in the field of anti-human trafficking. It served as a collaborative platform to enhance awareness, coordination, and capacity-building among frontline personnel in effectively tackling human trafficking through the railway system.
