Lok Sabha Question No. 637 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: Security of Railway Passengers
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Kunwar Danish Ali

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  637 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.12.2023

## SECURITY OF RAILWAY PASSENGERS

## †637.  KUNWAR DANISH ALI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)      whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognizance  of  the  increasing cases of misbehavior/molestation with passengers in Railways; (b) if  so,  the details thereof during the last ten years and the current year along with the action taken by the Government thereon; (c) whether the Government proposes to increase surveillance inside train coaches for better security of railway passengers; (d)      if so, the details thereof; and whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  plan  to  organize public  awareness  programmes  in  running  trains  and  if  so,  the

## 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. *****
- (e) details thereof?

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  637  BY  KUNWAR  DANISH  ALI  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK SABHA ON 06.12.2023 REGARDING SECURITY OF RAILWAY PASSENGERS

(a)  to  (e):  '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  State-wise  number  of  incidents  reported  of  misbehavior/molestation  in Railways are published by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Based on the  data  published  by  NCRB  available  upto  2022,  there  is  considerable decrease in the cases of misbehavior / molestation in Railways during the year 2022 as compared to 2017, 2018 & 2019. Data of crime in the years 2020 and 2021 are not considered for comparison as the passenger train operation was curtailed  due  to  the  onset  of  Covid  -  19.  The  number  of  cases  reported  of misbehavior / molestation during the year  2013-2016 over the railways have not been separately published by NCRB. Figure for the year 2023 has not been published by NCRB.

Surveillance is kept through CCTV cameras provided in a number of coaches & Railway Stations for enhanced security of passengers.

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.

The following steps are being taken by the Railways in coordination with GRP for safety and security of passengers in trains and at 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. 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].
3. 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.
4. Frequent  announcements  are  made  through  Public  Address  System  to educate passengers to take precautions against theft, snatching, drugging etc.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.

*****