Lok Sabha Question No. 1596 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Women Compartments
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: VIKRAM USENDI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1596 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## WOMEN COMPARTMENTS

†1596.  SHRI VIKRAM USENDI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the number of women compartments is very low in trains running on important routes in the country;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c)  the  number  of  cases  of  molestation  and  assault  against women registered by RPF and GRP across the country during the last three years, region-wise;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to increase the number of women  compartments/coaches  in  order  to  provide  adequate security to them in trains;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)  the  other  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Railways  for  the convenience and safety of women during train journeys?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1596 BY SHRI VIKRAM USENDI TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  27.12.2017  REGARDING  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  in  long distance Mail/Express trains.
2. A combined quota of four lower berths per coach in Sleeper class and two lower berth 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
- ii. normal Mail/Express trains.
- iii. Second class accommodation for women in the second Classcum-Luggage-cum  Guard's  Coach  (SLR)  in  most  of  the  long distance trains.
- iv. 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.
- v. Running  of  ladies  special  EMU/MEMU/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 molestation  and  assault  against  women  passengers  in  trains registered  by  GRP  during  the  years  2014,  2015  and  2016  over Indian Railways is appended.

(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.

(f): 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 the 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. 1596 BY SHRI VIKRAM USENDI TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 27.12.2017 REGARDING WOMEN COMPARTMENTS

| Zonal Railway   |   No. of cases of molestation and assault against women passengers in trains registered |   No. of cases of molestation and assault against women passengers in trains registered |   No. of cases of molestation and assault against women passengers in trains registered |
|-----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                 |                                                                                    2014 |                                                                                    2015 |                                                                                    2016 |
| CR              |                                                                                      28 |                                                                                      54 |                                                                                      46 |
| ER              |                                                                                      39 |                                                                                      28 |                                                                                      33 |
| ECR             |                                                                                      16 |                                                                                      24 |                                                                                      23 |
| ECoR            |                                                                                       3 |                                                                                       4 |                                                                                       3 |
| NR              |                                                                                      31 |                                                                                      51 |                                                                                      31 |
| NCR             |                                                                                      14 |                                                                                      14 |                                                                                      13 |
| NER             |                                                                                       4 |                                                                                       7 |                                                                                      10 |
| NFR             |                                                                                      11 |                                                                                       8 |                                                                                       9 |
| NWR             |                                                                                       4 |                                                                                       4 |                                                                                       5 |
| SR              |                                                                                      93 |                                                                                      56 |                                                                                      57 |
| SCR             |                                                                                      16 |                                                                                      12 |                                                                                      12 |
| SER             |                                                                                       5 |                                                                                       4 |                                                                                       7 |
| SECR            |                                                                                       5 |                                                                                       6 |                                                                                       8 |
| SWR             |                                                                                       4 |                                                                                       6 |                                                                                       4 |
| WR              |                                                                                      21 |                                                                                      34 |                                                                                      42 |
| WCR             |                                                                                      18 |                                                                                      40 |                                                                                      15 |

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