Insta
Indian Railways' Women Safety-Focused 'Meri Saheli' Initiative Implemented In All Zones: Piyush Goyal
IANS
Feb 11, 2021, 09:51 AM | Updated 09:51 AM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
With a focus on women safety, the Indian Railways has spread the 'Meri Saheli' initiative in all its zones, Parliament was told on Wednesday (10 February).
In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said that the initiative, aimed to provide safety and security to woman passengers for their entire journey, was launched as a pilot project by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) across the South Eastern Railway in trains originating there.
"Considering its success in instilling a sense of security among women passengers, this initiative has been rolled over to all zonal railways across Indian Railways' network from October 17 last year," he said.
Dedicated teams of women RPF personnel have been formed across all zonal railways for its implementation, he said.
Noting that Section 58 of the Railways Act, 1989 provides for earmarking of accommodation for female passengers in trains, he said there is a reservation quota of six berths in the sleeper class in long distance Mail or Express trains, a reservation quota of six berths in 3AC class of Garib Rath or Rajdhani or Duronto or fully air-conditioned Express trains for female passengers, irrespective of their age, travelling alone or in a group of female passengers.
He also said that there is a combined reservation quota of six to seven lower berths per coach in the sleeper class, four to five lower berths per coach each in the Air Conditioned 3 tier (3AC) and three to four lower berths per coach in the Air Conditioned 2 tier (2AC) classes (depending on the number of coaches of that class in the train) for senior citizens, female passengers 45 years of age and above and pregnant women.
The Minister also said that there is second class accommodation for women in the second class-cum-luggage-cum-guard's Coach (SLR) in most of the long distance Mail or Express trains. Exclusive unreserved coaches or compartments for female passengers are there in EMU (Electrical Multiple Unit)/DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit)/MMTS(Multi Modal Transport System) trains and local passenger trains, depending upon demand pattern as well as availability.
He said that the deployment of RPF guard including women RPF personnel in women's coaches is decided based on the vulnerability of the train or section concerned, timing, location, threat perception of the hinterland, analysis of past crime data among others and hence it "keeps changing from time to time".
However, women special trains running in metropolitan cities are being escorted by women RPF personnel, he said.
"Presently, 14 ladies special trains are operational over Western and Central Railway serving the Mumbai area. These are being supplemented by 20 trains having partial earmarking of three coaches in the trains which are in addition to the regular earmarking of three coaches or four coaches in 12 car or 15 car trains.
"Over Southern Railway, serving Chennai area, 21 services have earmarking of 6.5 coaches or 5.5 coaches in 12 Car or 9 Car trains. Besides, introduction of additional trains, including Ladies special trains, and augmentation of trains, is an on-going process on Indian Railways," Goyal added.
(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.