(a) whether the Railways have any proposal to put in place a protocol for the rescue and rehabilitation of young children found abandoned on railway stations or trafficked through trains;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the time by which it is likely to be implemented?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)
(a) and (b): The Ministry of Railways, in coordination with Ministry of Women and Child Development and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, have issued a Standard Operating Procedure which includes a protocol for the rescue of young children found abandoned on railway stations or trafficked through trains. However, rehabilitation of such children lies in the domain of the Child Welfare Committee of the State Government as per the Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection) Act, 2000.
(c): This Standard Operating Procedure has been in operation since 11.12.2013.