Home / Crime and Justice / RPF Project Disha Transforms Pune Youth, Halts Stone Pelting
RPF Project Disha Transforms Pune Youth, Halts Stone Pelting
8 Oct
Summary
- Project Disha significantly reduced stone-pelting incidents in Pune Railway Division.
- The initiative focuses on engaging at-risk children constructively.
- RPF aims to expand Project Disha to 12 centers across the division.
The Railway Protection Force's Project Disha has achieved remarkable success in reducing stone-pelting incidents within the Pune Railway Division. Between January and August 2026, only five such incidents were reported, a significant decrease from the previous year. This initiative, launched in January 2026, targets underage children involved in stone-pelting activities, particularly in areas like Pimpri Chinchwad and Ghorpadi-Saswad.
The project employs a four-stage approach: Engage, Shift, Spread, and Deter. RPF personnel build rapport with children through friendly interactions and recreational activities, gradually guiding them towards education, sports, and skill development. The children are encouraged to become safety ambassadors, spreading railway safety messages within their communities.
This pilot project has not only halted stone-pelting but also reduced untoward incidents by approximately 68%. Encouraged by these results, the RPF plans to expand Project Disha into a network of 12 centers across the Pune railway division. This expansion will identify locations based on crime statistics and community needs, creating safe spaces for children to interact positively with RPF personnel and volunteers.
