Meet Rekha Mishra, a 35 year old policewoman in Mumbai who, in six years of service with the Railway Protection Force, has rescued more than 950 runaway and trafficked children. Her daring actions have not only saved lives but empowered young woman across India to break free from cultural expectations and choose their own path.
For Rekha, joining the police force was a dream she worked hard for her whole life. She was inspired by her father, an army officer who encouraged his daughters to take up a life of service. The day she passed her exams to become a sub-inspector, her father saluted her with the words “always work for a cause, not the applause.”
In 2015 Rekha was posted to Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus to help prevent the trafficking of women and children. Working 12–14-hour days, she has rescued hundreds of destitute, kidnapped and runaway children but her service goes beyond the physical rescue. Rekha has made it her mission to counsel and feed the children and to take all precautions to ensure they end up in safe hands, especially if they’ve escaped from abusive families.
Despite her incredible achievements, Rekha faces constant criticism over her suitability for the job and her failure as a wife. These challenges have only fuelled Rekha’s determination to change the system and she’s a passionate advocate for more women in the police force. NDTV
"I just hope that through what I do, girls everywhere realize that they can be the heroine of their lives and that they have the power within them to write their own stories.”
