In its efforts to provide the best of security to women passengers, the Indian Railways is now ready to launch an all-India helpline for women passengers in distress. The helpline number would urgently coordinate with the nearest Railway Station or concerned authorities to provide necessary support to the distressed traveler.
A top Railway official said that helpline to be introduced next month will send an alert to nearest Railway Station for assistance. Security personnel are also being trained as part of improving behavioral issues on dealing with the fairer sex. All these are part of the Rs40-crore Railways integrated security system plan that will cover 40 locations all over India.
The Railways have already provided escorts in ladies compartments. Amongst the various measures for safe journey for women, the Railways has also launched a mobile application in Mumbai which ensures that women in distress can send an alert to the nearest Railway Station.
“The Railways was deploying more number of lady constables in women’s compartments. In future, more and more CCTV will be installed in train coaches to increase safety of women as part of Railways’ objective to provide better network and more basic amenities,” said a senior Railway official.
last week, as part of ensuring better security to the passengers, the Centre proposed a series of measures to provide top-notch security cover to train passengers including a consensus with the State Governments to amend the RPF Actand hand over the entire security to the railways elite security force.
The new proposals also include online crime registrations and securing seats for ex-Armymen in all train coaches. The Railways is also emphasising the need to make concerted efforts to organise training on behavioral issues to the RPF personnel.