Lok Sabha Question No. 3067 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Number of Women Compartments
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: LAKHAN LAL SAHU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3067 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2018

## NUMBER OF WOMEN COMPARTMENTS

† 3067.  SHRI LAKHAN LAL SAHU:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the number of women compartments in various trains on important routes is very less;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the area-wise number of cases registered for eve-teasing and attack on women  by RPF/GRPF during the last three years in the country;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to increase the number of women compartments  to  provide  security  to  women  in  trains  and  if  so,  the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Railways to ensure safe and comfortable journey for women?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) to (e) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3067 BY SHRI LAKHAN LAL SAHU TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  14.03.2018  REGARDING  NUMBER  OF WOMEN COMPARTMENTS.

(a) and (b): Section 58 of the Railways Act, 1989 provides for earmarking of accommodation for female passengers in trains. Accordingly, in trains carrying passengers, Indian Railways have earmarked following accommodation for female passengers:

- i. A  reservation  quota  of  six  berths  in  sleeper  class(SL)  in  long distance Mail/Express trains has been earmarked for ladies irrespective of age  travelling alone  or in  a  group  of  female passengers.
- ii. A combined quota of six lower berths per coach in Sleeper class and  three  lower  berths  per  coach  in  Air  Conditioned  3  tier  (3AC) and Air Conditioned 2 tier (2AC) classes for senior citizens, female passengers 45 years of age and above, and pregnant women when travelling alone. In  case  of  Rajdhani,  Duronto  and  fully  Air Conditioned Express trains, the number  of berths to be earmarked under this quota in 3AC is 4 lower berths per coach as against 3 lower berths per coach in normal Mail/Express trains.
- iii. A reservation quota of six berths in Air Conditioned 3 tier (3AC) in Garib Rath Express trains has been earmarked for exclusive use of female passengers irrespective of age travelling alone or in a group of female passengers.
- iv. Second class accommodation for women in the second Class-cumLuggage-cum  Guard's  Coach(SLR)  in  most  of  the  long  distance trains.
- v. Unreserved coaches/compartments for female passengers in EMU (Electrical  Multiple  Unit)/DMU  (Diesel  Multiple  Unit)/  MMTS  (Multi

Modal Transport System) trains & local passenger trains depending upon demand pattern as well as availability of accommodation.

- vi. Running of ladies special Electrical Multiple Units (EMU)/ Mainline Electrical  Multiple  Units  (MEMU)  /  Multi  Modal  Transport  System (MMTS)  services  on  the  suburban  sections  of  Mumbai,  Kolkata, Secunderabad and Chennai as well as on the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) sections.

(c):  The  cases  of  crime  in  Railways  are  registered  and  investigated  by the Government Railway Police (GRP) of the State concerned as Policing on Railways is a State subject. The number of cases of eve-teasing and attack  on  women  passengers  in  trains  registered  by  GRP  during  the years  2015,  2016  and  2017  over  Indian  Railways  is  appended.  The figures  appended  are  based  on  the  data  received  from  Government Railway Police.

(d)  and  (e):  Earmarking  of  accommodation  for  different  categories  of passengers  including  women  passengers  is  done  based  on  demand pattern  and  availability  of  accommodation,  which  is  a  continuous  and ongoing process.

Policing  on  Railways  being  a  State  subject,  prevention  of  crime, registration  of  cases,  their  investigation  and  maintenance  of  law  and order in Railway premises as well as on running trains are the statutory responsibility  of  the  State  Governments,  which  they  discharge  through Government  Railway  Police  (GRP)/District  Police.    However,  Railway Protection  Force  (RPF)  supplements  the  efforts  of  GRP  in  providing better protection and security of passenger area and passengers and for matters connected therewith.

However,  to  provide  security  to  passengers  including  women passengers, following steps are being taken by Indian Railways:

1. On  vulnerable and identified routes/sections, 2500  trains (on an average) are escorted by Railway Protection Force daily, in addition to 2200 trains escorted by Government Railway Police of different States daily.
2. Surveillance  is  kept  through  CCTV  cameras,  provided  at  about  394 stations over Indian Railways, to ensure  safety and  security of passengers.
3. Ladies Special trains running in Metropolitan cities are being escorted by lady RPF personnel.  The train escorting parties have been briefed to keep extra vigil on the ladies coaches en route and at halting stations in long distance trains.
4. Through  various  social  media  platforms  viz.  Twitter,  Facebook  etc., Railways  are  in  regular  touch  with  passengers  including  women passengers  to  enhance  security  of  passengers  and  to  address  their security concern.
5. Security  Help  Line  number  182  is  made  operational  over  Indian Railways for security related assistance to passengers in distress.
6. An Integrated Security System consisting of surveillance of vulnerable stations  through  Close  Circuit  Television  Camera  Network,  Access Control  etc.  has  been  sanctioned  to  improve  surveillance  mechanism over 202 railway stations.
7. Regular drives  are  conducted  to  prevent  entry  of  male  passengers  in compartments  reserved  for  ladies,  and  if  found,  they  are  prosecuted under the provisions of Railways Act.
8. Liaison  is  made  by  RPF  with  the  State  Police/GRP  authorities  at  all levels for prevention of crime, registration of cases, their investigation and maintenance of law and order in Railway premises as well as on running trains.

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APPENDIX  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (c)  OF  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3067 BY SHRI LAKHAN LAL SAHU TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 14.03.2018 REGARDING NUMBER OF WOMEN COMPARTMENTS.

(c): The number of cases of eve-teasing and attack  on  women passengers  in  trains  over  Indian  Railways  registered  by  Government Railway Police during the years 2015, 2016 and 2017 is as under:-

| Zonal Railway      |   No. of cases of eve-teasing and attack on women passengers in trains registered |   No. of cases of eve-teasing and attack on women passengers in trains registered |   No. of cases of eve-teasing and attack on women passengers in trains registered |
|--------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                    |                                                                              2015 |                                                                              2016 |                                                                              2017 |
| Central            |                                                                                31 |                                                                                17 |                                                                                22 |
| Eastern            |                                                                                31 |                                                                                33 |                                                                                27 |
| East Central       |                                                                                 0 |                                                                                 3 |                                                                                 2 |
| East Coast         |                                                                                 5 |                                                                                 3 |                                                                                 6 |
| Northern           |                                                                                 2 |                                                                                 4 |                                                                                 7 |
| North Central      |                                                                                14 |                                                                                13 |                                                                                21 |
| North Eastern      |                                                                                 0 |                                                                                 1 |                                                                                 0 |
| Northeast Frontier |                                                                                 3 |                                                                                 4 |                                                                                 2 |
| North Western      |                                                                                 4 |                                                                                 4 |                                                                                 6 |
| Southern           |                                                                                10 |                                                                                 7 |                                                                                 5 |
| South Central      |                                                                                 6 |                                                                                 3 |                                                                                 5 |
| South Eastern      |                                                                                 5 |                                                                                 7 |                                                                                 6 |
| South East Central |                                                                                 0 |                                                                                 0 |                                                                                 0 |
| South Western      |                                                                                 0 |                                                                                 0 |                                                                                 0 |
| Western            |                                                                                 0 |                                                                                 2 |                                                                                 0 |
| West Central       |                                                                                 2 |                                                                                 1 |                                                                                 0 |

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