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Why Maharashtra School Textbooks Teach About This Lady Cop

She has rescued more than 430 children from various railway tracks in Mumbai

When Rekha Mishra from Uttar Pradesh joined Railway Police Force in 2014, she had never expected the kind of success awaiting her.

In just four years of her service, Mishra has become famous all over the country for her courage and bravery. Posted as a Sub Inspector in Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Mishra and her team have rescued nearly 500 lost, kidnapped and missing children from various railway tracks in the city.

Last year, RPF rescued 1150 children from across Mumbai’s railway tracks out of which 434 were rescued under the leadership of Mishra. It was a record. The rescued children also included 45 minor girls.

Her priority though is not restricted to rescue alone. Mishra doggedly tries to unite the rescued kids with their families.

To celebrate her bravery, Maharashtra State Board has now decided to honour the cop in a unique way. From this year, Marathi textbooks of Class 10 will have a chapter on the 32-year-old policewoman.

Mishra, who belongs to an army family, has now become an expert in dealing with cases of missing children. During her work, she learnt about the different circumstances that force a child to leave his home.

“I feel very blessed and happy that God helps in doing such work. I always pray to God that gives me strength to help others, especially senior citizens, children, and poor people. I work for around 12–14 hours a day, and make sure that I don’t regret anything when I go to bed,” Mishra told The Hindu in an interview, last year.