Lok Sabha Question No. 3259 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-23
Subject: Safety of Women Passengers
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Sunil Dattatray Tatkare, Supriya Sadanand Sule, Kuldeep Rai Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3259 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2022

## SAFETY OF WOMEN PASSENGERS

3259. DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE:

SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  sanctioned  and  actual  strength  of  the  Railway  Protection Force (RPF) including women constables;
- (b) whether many posts of RPF is still vacant and not filled, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether RPF has been able to achieve the objective of protecting and securing railway property, if so, the details thereof and if not, the corrective steps being taken in this regard;
- (d) the  number  of  person  who  have  been  rescued  under  Mission Jeewan Raksha by RPF during each of the last three years and the number of RPF personnel who have been rewarded in this regard; and
- (e) whether the railways has launched 'Meri Saheli' initiative to focus on  the  safety  of  women  passengers  and  if  so,  whether  this initiative is extended to all zones and if so, the number of women RPF personnel deployed for this purpose?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3259 BY DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE,  SHRI  SUNIL  DATTATRAY  TATKARE,  SHRIMATI  SUPRIYA SULE AND SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 23.03.2022 REGARDING SAFETY OF WOMEN PASSENGERS

- (a):  Sanctioned  strength  of  the  Railway  Protection  Force  (RPF)  is 74,719, and 66,360 RPF personnel are on roll including 4920 Women Constables as on 31.01.2022.
- (b):  7762  posts  are  vacant  in  RPF/RPSF  as  on  31.01.2022.  This includes  selection  through  direct  recruitment  and  departmental promotion  both.  Arising  of  vacancies  is  an  ongoing  process  in security  department (Railway Protection Force) due to retirements, promotions, deaths, resignations, etc., the same are filled up through open recruitments and departmental promotions as per the existing rules.

(c): Railway Protection Force (RPF) has been mandated for security of railway property besides security of passengers & passenger area as  per  RPF  Act,  1957  as  amended  in  2003.  During  the  years  2019, 2020  &  2021,  the  number  of  cases  of  theft  of  railway  property (Booked  Consignment  &  Railway  Material)  registered  by  RPF  are 5185,  3281  and  5154  respectively.  The  value  of  Railway  property stolen have decreased from ₹ 14.26 cr. in 2019 to ₹ 11.31 cr. in 2020 and further to ₹ 8.89 cr. in the year 2021.

The following steps are being taken by the Railways to control theft of Railway Property/Goods transported through railways:-

1. All major railway stations, deports, yards and other vital installations  are  manned  by  Railway  Protection  Force  round  the clock.
2. Escorting  of  affected  passengers  &  goods  trains  in  identified vulnerable sections is being done.

3. Strengthening  of  basic  security  arrangements  at  Railway  yards, Goods Sheds and Parcel Sheds is being done.
4. Frequent  drives  are  conducted  against  undesirable  elements  in trains and railway premises to prevent such thefts.
5. Surveillance  is  kept  through  Close  Circuit  Television  (CCTV) cameras, provided at about 850 railway stations.
6. Adequate security measures i.e. picketing, ambush etc. are done at identified black spots from time to time.
7. All  cases  of  theft  of  Railway  Property  are  promptly  registered, enquired and arrested criminals are prosecuted as per law.
8. Crime Intelligence Branch (CIB) and Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) of RPF keep regular watch and collect intelligence from time to time  about  active  criminals  indulged  in theft  of  Railway Property.  Based  on  actionable  intelligence  against  receivers  of stolen Railway Properties raids are conducted.
9. Regular  co-ordination  meetings  are  conducted  with  Government Railway  Police  (GRP)/Civil  Police  for  collection  and  sharing  of criminal intelligence.
8. (d):    Being  'Citizens  in  Uniform',  RPF  personnel  go  out  of  the  way risking their own lives to save lives of others under 'Mission Jeevan Raksha'.    In  its  constant  endeavor  to  save  human  lives,  RPF  has saved 1098 lives on tracks during the last three years i.e. 2019, 2020 & 2021. A total of 287 RPF personnel have been awarded by railway authorities  in  this  regard.  Besides  this,  the  President  of  India  has awarded 3 RPF  Personnel with 'Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak', 6 RPF  Personnel  with  'Uttam  Jeevan  Raksha  Padak'  and  6  RPF Personnel with 'Jeevan Raksha Padak' during the last three years i.e. 2019, 2020 & 2021.
9. (e):  'Meri Saheli' initiative was launched as Pilot Project by Railway Protection Force (RPF) across South Eastern Railway for security of

women passengers in trains originating in that zone. Considering its success in instilling a sense of security among women passengers, this initiative has been rolled over to all zonal railways across Indian Railways' network from 17.10.2020. Meri Saheli Initiative  was launched to provide safety and security to lady passengers travelling alone or with minors by long distance trains for their entire journey from  originating  station  to  terminating  station.  Dedicated  teams  of lady RPF personnel have been formed across all zonal railways for its implementation.  Presently,  939  women  RPF  personnel  are  being deployed for this purpose on an average daily across Indian Railways.

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