Workshop on human rights issues for RPF personnel held

New Delhi: A special two-day workshop on human rights issues was conducted for senior officers of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) here last week.

The training workshop, organised by the Railways Ministry's Security Directorate, was inaugurated by Former Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, who is the Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

While commending the RPF initiative, the NHRC Chairperson emphasised on the need to protect the basic rights of rail passengers and ensure safe and secure environment on trains, according to an official release.

Justice (retd.) Balakrishnan said RPF was facing the challenging task of providing security to Indian Railways, which was one of the largest in the world.

He said the basic course on human rights for RPF constabulary was based on the course developed in collaboration with IGNOU for police personnel.

RPF Director General Krishna Chaudhary said the workshop was part of a drive to ensure that over 16,000 newly recruited constables who were undergoing training in 34 centres across the country were aware of human rights concepts during their basic training itself.

The RPF DG said RPF personnel in service would also be given human rights training through refresher courses to ensure safe and secure rail travel for woman, children, elderly and infirm rail passengers.