The Union Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has recently announced a whole new spate of measures that are directed towards ensuring the safety of women travellers in long route trains. The new measures not only revolve around berth reservations but also other security measures that women passengers on long route trains will soon have access to.
The ministry has revealed the following reservation-related measures:
• Six berths to be reserved for women passengers (irrespective of age, travelling alone or in a group) in the sleeper class of long-distance mail or express trains.
• Six berths in third-tier air-conditioned coaches (3AC) of trains like Garib Rath, Rajdhani, Duronto and other fully AC trains to be reserved for women passengers (irrespective of age, travelling alone or in a group).
• A combined reservation quota of six-seven lower berths per coach in sleeper class, four-five lower berths per coach in 3AC, and three-four lower berths per coach in 2AC to be reserved for senior citizens, female passengers aged 45 years and above, and pregnant women.
Apart from these, a number of security-related measures are also supposed to be put in place to ensure the safety of all women passengers. The minister said that the Railway Protection Force (RPF) will bolster the efforts of state and district police forces to provide better protection to women, even though police and public order are subjects that fall under the jurisdiction of each state according to the Constitution of India’s Seventh Schedule. Additionally, the RPF and Government Railway Police Force (GRPF) are also escorting trains on vulnerable routes which face frequent issues, the minister said.
He also added that the Railway Helpline number 139 is operational all day every day throughout the entire network of national railways to assist passengers in distress. Issues and grievances shared on social media platforms will also be equally highlighted and addressed.
The RPF has already launched a nationwide initiative, Meri Saheli, in order to enhance the security of women passengers—which is supposed to focus on their security from the time they board a train to the time of de-boarding, especially for women travelling alone. Women officers and staff are also being trained under this initiative.
Further, women RPF personnel are also escorting all ladies special trains, and have been asked to keep extra vigil to ensure the safety of women travellers. The minister revealed that CCTV cameras have been installed in 4,934 coaches and 838 railway stations across the nation to strengthen these initiatives. An emergency talkback system and CCTV surveillance cameras are also being installed in all ladies coaches of newly manufactured Electrical Multiple Unit (EMU) and Kolkata Metro coaches, the minister added.
*Image used for representative purpose