Lok Sabha Question No. 5178 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-24
Subject: Safety of Women
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Rita Bahuguna Joshi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5178 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2019

## SAFETY OF WOMEN

5178. SHRIMATI RITA BAHUGUNA JOSHI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken adequate steps for ensuring safety and security of women passengers;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the impact of the steps taken by the Government in this regard; and

(c) the other measures which are being contemplated by the Government for the safety of women in trains?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

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

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  5178  BY  SHRIMATI  RITA  BAHUGUNA  JOSHI  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  24.07.2019  REGARDING  SAFETY  OF WOMEN

(a) to (c): Policing on Railways being a State subject, prevention of crime, registration of cases, their investigation and maintenance of law & 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 to provide better protection and security of passenger area & passengers. Cases of Indian Penal Code (IPC) crime in Railways are registered and investigated by the concerned Government Railway Police. However, following measures are being  taken  by  the  Railways  (some  in  coordination  with  Government Railway Police) to ensure security of passengers including  women passengers:-

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. Security  Help  Line  number  182  is  made  operational  over  Indian Railways for security related assistance to passengers in distress.
3. Through  various  social  media  platforms  viz.  twitter,  facebook  etc., Railways  are  in  regular  touch  with  passengers  including  women  to enhance security of passengers and to address their security concern.
4. Drives are conducted against entry of male passengers into compartments reserved for women passengers and persons apprehended are prosecuted under section 162 of the Railways Act, 1989. During the years 2018 & 2019 (upto June), a total of 139422 & 44060  male  passengers respectively have been prosecuted for unauthorized entry/travel in compartments reserved for  women passengers.

- Ladies Special trains running in Metropolitan cities are being escorted by  lady  RPF  personnel.  In  other  trains,  where  escorts  are  provided, the train escorting parties have been briefed to keep extra vigil on the lady  passengers  travelling  alone,  ladies  coaches  en-route  and  at
5. halting stations.
6. Frequent announcements are made through Public Address System to educate  passengers  to  take  precautions  against  theft,  snatching, drugging etc.
7. Regular coordination is made with the State Police/GRP authorities at all levels for prevention of crime, registration of cases, their investigation and maintenance of law & order in Railway premises as well as on running trains.
8. An  Integrated  Security  System  (ISS)  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.
9. In  order  to  increase  representation of  women in RPF to the level of 10%,  4517  out  of  9739  vacancies  notified  in  the  year  2018  were notified for women.
10. Steps  have  been  taken  to  install  CCTV  cameras  in  all  coaches  of Suburban trains, Premium trains, Mail Express and Passenger trains and  at  6441  stations  of  Indian  Railways  for  ensuring  safety  and security  of  passengers.  CCTV  cameras  have  been  provided  at  473 stations  and  in  1300  coaches.  Works  have  been  sanctioned  for provision of CCTV cameras at 6174 stations and in 58276 coaches.
11. Emergency Talk Back system has been provided in all coaches of Air conditioned EMU rakes and Air conditioned rakes of Kolkata Metro. This system is being provided in all newly manufactured airconditioned EMU rakes, underslung MEMU rakes and ladies compartment  of  non  AC  EMU  rakes.  Western  Railway  has  already provided Emergency Talk Back system in 8 ladies coaches of existing three phase EMU rakes. Further, decision has been taken to provide Emergency Talk Back System in ladies compartment of existing three phase EMU rake.

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