BELAGAVI
Indian Railways has launched ‘Meri Saheli’ initiative for focused action on security of women across all zones with an objective to provide safety and security to lady passengers travelling by trains for their entire journey from starting station to destination station.
As part of this initiative, the South Western Railways (SWR) has launched special security of women travellers on a few trains, including the Vasco-Nizamuddin Goa Express.
According to SWR, the ‘Meri Saheli’ initiative has been introduced in 4 pairs of trains, comprising Vasco-Nizamuddin Goa Exrpess, Hubballi-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus-Hubballi Express Special, Hubballi-Vijayawada-Hubballi Express Special and Gadag-Mumbai CSMT-Gadag Express Special. The initiative is being implemented in a phased manner.
Under the ‘Meri Saheli’ initiative, a team comprising a Lady Sub Inspector and Lady Constables has been formed at starting stations.
Before the departure of the train at the originating station, the team enters all passenger coaches, including ladies coaches, and identifies lady passengers, especially ladies travelling alone.
The team will brief the lady passengers about the precautions to be taken during their journey and also to contact 182 security helpline in case they face or see any security related issues during the journey.
An email ID has been created for Hubballi Division as [email protected] and a mobile number 7022626987 can also be contacted over Hubballi division by them for security assistance.
“The initiative has reportedly been successful in instilling a sense of security among women travellers and has rendered help to them in several instances,” SWR Chief PRO E Vijaya said.
The platform duty RPF personnel at the stopping stations en-route keep unobtrusive watch over the concerned coaches and berths and if need arises, interact with the lady passengers.
The RPF/RPSF escort onboard also covers all the coaches/identified berths during its duty period.
RPF teams at the destination collect the feedback from the identified lady passengers. The feedback is then analysed and corrective action, if any, is taken. If some distress call comes from a train covered under ‘Meri Saheli’ initiative, the disposal of the call is monitored at the level of senior officers.
The ‘Meri Saheli’ initiative was started as a pilot project in South Eastern Railway in September and after getting encouraging response from lady passengers, it was extended to all zones and KRCL with effect from October 17.
