Lok Sabha Question No. 1410 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-10
Subject: Meri Saheli Initiative
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: C.N. Annadurai, Ganesan Selvam, Dhanush M Kumar, Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar, Gautham Sigamani Pon

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1410

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2021

## MERI SAHELI INITIATIVE

1410.  SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI:

SHRI SELVAM G.:

SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI GAUTHAM SIGAMANI PON:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) 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;
- (b) if so, the number of women RPF personnel deployed for this purpose;
- (c) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  there  is  very  less  number  of  ladies' compartments  in  various  trains  running  on  important  routes  in  the country  and  if  so,  whether  the  Government  deputes/proposes  to depute  Railway  Protection  Force  in  ladies'  compartments  for  the security of women passengers;
- (d) whether the Government is running ladies special EMU/MEMU/MMTS services on the suburban sections of Mumbai and Chennai and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the other steps taken by the Government to increase the number of ladies'  compartments/coaches to ensure adequate safety of women passengers in trains?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND

CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (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.  1410  BY  SHRI  C.N.  ANNADURAI,  SHRI SELVAM G., SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR, SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR AND SHRI  GAUTHAM SIGAMANI PON TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 10.02.2021 REGARDING MERI SAHELI INITIATIVE.

(a) and  (b):  '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 by 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, 1176 number of women RPF personnel are being deployed for this purpose on average daily basis across Indian Railways network.

(c):  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  and  a  reservation  quota  of  six berths  in  3AC  class  of  Garib  Rath/Rajdhani/Duronto/fully  airconditioned Express trains for female passengers irrespective of their age travelling alone or in a group of female passengers.
2. A  combined reservation  quota  of  six  to  seven  lower  berths  per coach in Sleeper class, four to five lower berths per coach each in Air Conditioned 3 tier (3AC) and three to four lower berths per coach in Air Conditioned 2 tier (2AC) classes (depending on the number of coaches of that class in the train) for senior citizens, female  passengers  45  years  of  age  and  above  and  pregnant
- ii. women.

- iii. Second  class  accommodation  for  women  in  the  second  Classcum-Luggage-cum  Guard's  Coach  (SLR)  in  most  of  the  long distance Mail/Express trains.
- iv. Exclusive 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.

The  deployment  of  RPF  guard  including  women  RPF  personnel  in ladies  coaches  is  decided  based  on  the  vulnerability  of  the  concerned trains/sections,  timing,  location  of  the  area,  threat  perception  of  the hinterland,  analysis  of  past  crime  of  data  among  others.  Therefore,  the deployment is dynamic and keeps changing from time to time. However, Ladies Special trains running in Metropolitan cities are being escorted by lady RPF personnel.

- (d)  and  (e):    Presently,  14  ladies  special  trains  are  operational  over Western  and  Central  Railway  serving  Mumbai  area.  These  are  being supplemented by 20 trains having partial earmarking of 03 coaches in the trains  which  are  in  addition  to  the  regular  earmarking  of  3  coaches/4 coaches in 12 Car/15 Car trains. Over Southern Railway, serving Chennai area, 21 services have earmarking of 6.5 coaches/5.5 coaches in 12 Car/9 Car  trains.  Besides,  introduction  of  additional  trains,  including  Ladies special  trains,  and  augmentation  of  trains,  is  an  on-going  process  on Indian Railways.

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