‘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 woman passengers in trains and at stations:-

• 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.

· Under ‘Meri Saheli’ initiative, focused attention has been provided for safety and security of woman passengers travelling alone by long distance trains for their entire journey i.e. from originating station to destination station.

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

· 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].

· Railways are in regular touch with passengers through various social media platforms like Twitter & Facebook etc. to enhance security of passengers and to address their security concern.

· Frequent announcements are made through Public Address System to educate passengers to take precautions against theft, snatching, drugging etc.

· 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.

· Drives are conducted against entry of male passengers into the compartment reserved for women and legal action is taken against the offenders.

• 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.

12^th Safety and Security in Railways Report came in December 2016 and prior to the year 2018, the percentage of women personnel was approx 3% of the total sanctioned strength. Arising of vacancies is an ongoing process due to retirements, promotions, deaths, resignations, etc. and the same are filled up through open recruitments and departmental promotions as per the existing rules. Post recruitment, percentage of women in RPF has increased from 3% to 9.38 % of the present strength.

RRB has issued notifications RPF CEN No. 01/2024 & RPF CEN No. 02/2024 for filling up 452 posts of Sub-Inspectors and 4208 posts of Constables respectively with 15% seats reserved for the women. This will further increase the percentage of women in RPF/RPSF.

566 railway stations have been provided with CCTV cameras under Nirbhaya fund so far with an expenditure of Rs. 223.67 Crores.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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Dharmendra Tewari/Shatrunjay Kumar

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