Lok Sabha Question No. 91 (STARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Safety of Senior Citizens
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ramesh Bidhuri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 91 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2023

## SAFETY OF SENIOR CITIZENS

- *91.   SHRI RAMESH BIDHURI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has taken any steps for providing safe and convenient journey of senior citizens of the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps taken for better and convenient travel of senior citizens at Railway Stations and trains across the country?

## 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 STARRED QUESTION NO. 91 BY SHRI RAMESH BIDHURI TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 26.07.2023 REGARDING SAFETY OF SENIOR CITIZENS.

(a) to (c):  'Police' and 'Public Order' are State Subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. State Governments are responsible for  prevention,  detection,  registration  and  investigation  of  crime  and maintenance  of law and order etc. 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 passengers.

The following steps are being taken by the Railways in coordination with  GRP  for  security,  safety  and  to  provide  convenient  journey  to passengers including senior citizens:

- i. 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.
- ii. For  immediate  assistance  passengers  can  make  complaint  on  Rail Madad Portal directly (integrated with National Emergency No. 112).
- iii. RPF personnel proactively provide assistance to elderly passengers taking  special  attention  under  mission  'Operation  Seva'.  RPF  has also  launched  a  focused  operation  called  'Operation  Dignity'  for rescue of elderly, sick, differently abled and other adults in need of care and protection.
- iv. Railway are in regular touch with passengers through various social media platforms viz. Twitter, Facebook, Koo etc. to enhance security of passengers and to address their security concerns.
- v. Frequent announcements are made though Public Address System to educate  passengers  to  take  precautions  against  theft,  snatching, drugging etc.
- vi. Round  the clock surveillance is kept through  CCTV  cameras provided  in  7264  coaches  in  trains  and  866  Railway  stations  for enhanced security of passengers.
- vii. Under 'Meri Saheli' initiative, focused attention has been provided for safety  and  security  of  lady  passengers  including  senior  citizens
8. travelling  alone  by  long  distance  trains  for  their  entire  journey  i.e from originating station to destination station.
- viii. State  level  Security  Committee  of  Railways  (SLSCR)  have  been constituted  for  all  States/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.
- ix. There is provision to allot lower berths to Senior Citizens and Female passengers of 45 years and above automatically, even if no choice is given,  subject  to  availability  of  accommodation  at  the  time  of booking.
- x. A combined reservation quota of six to seven lower berths per coach in Sleeper class, four to five lower berths per coach  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)  has  been  earmarked  for  senior citizens,  female  passengers  of  45  years  of  age  and  above  and pregnant women.
- xi. Ticket checking staff has been permitted to allot lower berths falling vacant in the train on priority to senior citizen or a pregnant woman or a person with disability, who has been allotted upper/middle berth.
- xii. Separate  unreserved  accommodation  has  also  been  earmarked  for senior citizens on suburban sections.
- xiii. Separate reservation counters are also earmarked for them at major reservation centers subject to demand and availability of space.
- xiv. Wheel chairs are provided at most of the Railway Stations & Battery Operated Vehicles are also available at some major stations.
- xv. 'May  I  Help  You'  booths  have  been  provided  at  major  stations  to facilitate passengers.
- xvi. To facilitate movement of passengers especially senior citizens and Persons with Disability (PwD), ramps, signage are provided at major Railway  Stations.  Escalators  and  Lifts  are  also  being  provided progressively at Railway stations.

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