Darbhanga: When you step on the bustling platform at Darbhanga railway station, you will probably not spot them. Yet, day in and day out, the Railway Children India looks out for lost, working and runaway children in distress.

In the past two years, they rescued 1,401 children, a monthly average of 52 children. It tries to ensure that each child living or passing through the railway stations that its works at, will be offered a comprehensive recovery and reintegration programme.

"A total of 1,12,000 kids who arrive in 35 major railway stations in a year, i.e. every 5 minutes, a child arrives at a station alone. Children arriving and living at railway stations are at risk and are subjected to multiple forms of discrimination and violence by abusers," said Ravi Shanker, field officer, Darbhanga, Railway Children India.

The Railway Children India, with its local non-government organisation partner Narayani Seva Sansthan, works with East Central Railway at Darbhanga station to help kids in distress. "There are 10 workers who ensure day-night outreach at Darbhanga station at a child help booth on platform no. 1," said Shanker.

Child Rescuers of Darbhanga can be reached at mobile number 7004300336.

Shanker said the children are produced before the child welfare committee for reunion with their families. "We assess the basic reason of children leaving home and post-reunion counselling is done to eliminate future vulnerability"

Among 1401 children safeguarded in Darbhanga, 57 were girls and are now reported to be living happily within their families.

Among the 1,344 boys, 118 were reported missing. As many as 1,226 boys were on way to become child labourers.