Lok Sabha Question No. 489 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Resources for addressing Human Trafficking Cases
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Kumbakudi Sudhakaran, Suresh Kodikunnil, Behanan Benny, D.K. Suresh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 489 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2021

## RESOURCES FOR ADDRESSING HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASES

489.  SHRI KUMBAKUDI SUDHAKARAN:

SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

SHRI BENNY BEHANAN: SHRI D.K. SURESH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any SOPs have been issued for curbing and/or investigation of human trafficking through railways and the rescue of such human trafficking victims;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  any  budgetary  allocations  have  been  made  towards addressing human trafficking issues through the railways;
- (d) if  so,  the  details  of  allocations  and  funds  released  from  2014  till date, and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether  any  budgetary  allocations  have  been  made  towards training  of  Railway  Protection  Force  on  human  trafficking  cases, and
- (f) if  so,  the  details  of  allocations  and  funds  released  from  2014  till date, and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 489 BY SHRI KUMBAKUDI SUDHAKARAN, SHRI  KODIKUNNIL  SURESH,  SHRI  BENNY  BEHANAN  AND  SHRI  D.K. SURESH TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 01.12.2021 REGARDING RESOURCES FOR ADDRESSING HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASES

(a)  and  (b):  'Police'  and  'Public  Order'  are  State  subjects  under  the Seventh  Schedule  to  the  Constitution  of  India  and,  as  such,  State Governments are responsible for prevention, detection, registration and investigation of crime and maintaining law and order etc. on Railways through their law enforcement agencies viz. Government Railway Police (GRP)/District Police. However, Railway Protection Force (RPF) supplements  the efforts of GRP/District Police to provide better protection  and  security  of  passenger  area  and  passengers  and  for matters connected therewith. Whenever any case of suspected human trafficking  is  detected  by  RPF,  the  same  is  reported  to  GRP/District Police and person(s) apprehended and rescued, if any, are also handed over to them for taking further necessary action as per law. Since RPF plays  only  supplementary  role  in  this  endeavour,  no  SOP  has  been issued by Ministry of Railways for curbing and/or investigation of human trafficking through railways and rescue of human trafficking victims.

(c) to (f): There is no separate budget allocation for expenditure to curb Human  Trafficking  activities through  railways  and  for training of Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel on Human Trafficking cases. However, the topic of 'Human Trafficking' is included in regular training courses of Railway Protection Force.  The Government Railway Police (GRP) comes under the purview of respective State Governments and the  administrative  expenses  incurred  on  GRP  are  shared  by  Central Government and State Government.

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