Important Facts For Prelims
Operation Mahila Suraksha
- 04 Jun 2022
- 3 min read
Why in News?
Under the Operation Mahila Suraksha, Railway Protection Force (RPF) has arrested more than 7000 persons who were traveling unauthorizedly in the coaches reserved for women.
- RPF also rescued girls/women from becoming the victims of human trafficking (Operation AAHT).
What is Operation Mahila Suraksha?
- About:
- The pan-India drive "Operation Mahila Suraksha" was launched from 3rd to 31st May 2022 to ensure women's security.
- Other Such Operation:
- With an objective of providing enhanced safety and security to lady passengers travelling by trains for their entire journey a pan India initiative "Meri Saheli" is also operational.
- Indian Railways has launched “Meri Saheli” initiative for focused action on security of women across all zones with an objective to provide safety and security to lady passengers travelling by trains for their entire journey from starting station to destination station.
- With an objective of providing enhanced safety and security to lady passengers travelling by trains for their entire journey a pan India initiative "Meri Saheli" is also operational.
What is the Railway Protection Force (RPF)?
- The contingent of RPF is an Armed Force of the Union of India. It is a security force under the ownership of Indian Railways, Ministry of Railways.
- The history of the RPF dates back to 1882 when various railway companies appointed their own guards for protection of railway property.
- The force was declared as statutory force in the year 1957 by an enactment of Parliament subsequently declared as an Armed Force of the Union of India in the year 1985.
- The RPF Rules were enacted in 1959 and RPF Regulations published in 1966. In the same year, some limited powers to apprehend and prosecute offenders involved in railway property were conferred on the Force by enacting the Railway Property (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1966.
- Primarily RPF has been entrusted with responsibility of the safety of Railway property. But, while the provisions of RPF Act were soon found wanting for the maintenance of an effective and disciplined Force, the RPF Rules and Regulations too were found judicially unsound.
- The RPF Act, 1957 was accordingly modified by Parliament in 1985 for the constitution and maintenance of the Force as an armed force of the Union.
