Lok Sabha Question No. 2767 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-20
Subject: Safety/Security of Women Passengers
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Kotagiri Sridhar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2767 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2023

## SAFETY/SECURITY OF WOMEN PASSENGERS

## 2767.   SHRI SRIDHAR KOTAGIRI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details  of measures being taken to ensure the safety and security of women passengers in the Indian Railways;
- (b) whether the same has resulted into a reduction in the number of crimes committed against women passengers in the country;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the  total  budget  allocation  and  spending  towards  enhancing safety and security of women passengers in the Indian Railways ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2767 BY SHRI SRIDHAR KOTAGIRI TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK  SABHA  ON  20.12.2023  REGARDING  SAFETY/SECURITY  OF  WOMEN PASSENGERS.

(a) to (d): 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to  the  Constitution  of  India  and,  therefore,  State  Governments are responsible for prevention, detection, registration and investigation of crime  and  maintenance  of  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  to  railway property,  passenger  area  and  passengers  and  for  matters  connected therewith.

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

1. Surveillance is kept through CCTV cameras provided in a number of coaches & Railway Stations for enhanced security of passengers.
2. 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.
3. For  immediate  assistance  passengers  can  make  complaint  on  Rail Madad  Portal  directly  or  through  Helpline  Number  139  [integrated with Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) No.112].
4. 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 concern.
5. Frequent  announcements  are  made  through  Public  Address  System to educate passengers to take precautions against theft, snatching, drugging etc.

6. Awareness campaigns are conducted in railway premises and in train through posters, banners, distribution of leaflets, videos on Railway Display Network (RDN) etc. on regular basis to educate passengers for taking necessary precautionary measures during their journey.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Drives  are  conducted  against  entry  of  male  passengers  into  the compartments reserved for ladies.
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.

Based  on  the  data  published  by  National  Crime  Records  Bureau  (NCRB) available upto 2022, there is considerable decrease in the cases of crime against women passengers reported over Indian Railways during the year 2022 as compared to the year 2019. Data of crime in the year 2020 & 2021 is  not  considered  for  comparison  as  the  passenger  train  operation  was severely curtailed due to the onset of Covid-19. Figure for the year 2023 has not been published by NCRB.

NIRBHAYA  fund  allocations  are  made  for  strengthening  the  safety  and security  of  women  in  the  country.  During the  Financial  year  2023-24,  Rs 200  crore  has  been  allotted  under  NIRBHAYA  fund . Apart  from  this,  all measures  for  safety  and  security  of  passengers  are  also  applicable  to women passengers.

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