Lok Sabha Question No. 2799 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-03
Subject: Safety of Women Passengers
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Kirron  Kher

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2799 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2022

## SAFETY OF WOMEN PASSENGERS

2799.   SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  adequate  steps  for  ensuring safety and security of women especially in local shuttle trains running for short distance via Delhi routes;
- (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, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (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.2799 BY SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  03.08.2022  REGARDING  SAFETY  OF WOMEN PASSENGERS

(a) to (c): 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India and, as such, State Governments are responsible  for  prevention,  detection,  registration  and  investigation  of crime  and  maintaining  law  and  order  on  Railways  through  their  law enforcement  agencies  viz.  Government  Railway  Police  (GRP)/District Police. Railway Protection Force (RPF) supplements  the efforts of GRP/District Police to provide better protection and security of passenger area and passengers and for matters connected therewith. Cases of crime under  Indian  Penal  Code  (IPC)  are  registered  and  investigated  by  the concerned Government Railway Police.

Further,  the  following  steps  are  being  taken  by  the  Railways  in coordination with GRP for safety and security of passengers including of women passengers in trains and at railway stations:-

1. On  vulnerable  and  identified  routes/sections,  trains  are  escorted  by Railway Protection Force in addition to trains escorted by Government Railway Police of different States daily.
2. Under 'Meri Saheli' initiative, focused attention has been provided for safety  and  security  of  lady  passengers  travelling  alone  by  long distance trains for their entire journey i.e. from originating station to destination station.
3. Zonal railways have been instructed for deployment  of proper combined  strength  of  male  &  female  RPF/RPSF  personnel  in  train escort parties, to the extent possible.

- 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
4. halting stations.
5. Frequent Drives are conducted against entry of male passengers into the compartments reserved for ladies.
6. Surveillance is kept through CCTV cameras provided in 5882 coaches in trains and 861 Railway stations for enhanced security of passengers.
7. For  immediate  assistance  passengers  can  make  complaint  on  Rail Madad  Portal  directly  or  through  Helpline  Number  139  (integrated with National Emergency No. 112).
8. Railways are in regular touch with passengers through various social media platforms like. Twitter, Facebook, Koo etc. to enhance security of passengers and to address their security concerns.
9. Frequent announcements are made through Public Address System to educate passengers and sensitize them to take  precautions against theft, snatching, drugging etc.
10. State  Level  Security  Committee  of  Railways  (SLSCR)  have  been constituted for all State/Union Territories under the Chairmanship of respective  Director  General  of  Police/Commissioner  of  States/Union Territories for regular monitoring and review of security arrangements of the Railways.
11. Special squads are deployed in short distance trains for security of women passengers from time to time.

Based  on  the  data  provided  by  GRP,  it  is  informed  that  no  case  is registered in respect of heinous crime against women passenger in local shuttle trains running for short distance via Delhi routes during the last 2 year i.e. 2020, 2021 and current year 2022(upto June).  Due to the various measures  mentioned  above,  the  crime  against  women  passengers  is under  control  especially  in  local/shuttle  trains  running  across  short distance via Delhi routes.

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