The Ministry of Railways has issued a detailed set of guidelines to prevent crimes against women, both on trains and railway station premises. The guidelines include keeping watch on suspects, a regular visit to vulnerable spots by duty officers and staff during their rounds on a short-term basis.
The guidelines include an action plan, preventive measures, sensitization, surveillance over the identified vulnerable area, notice for passengers, and special measures. It also includes norms on how to use CCTV surveillance effectively to prevent harassment or crime against women calling for all capturing the face of all persons visiting railway stations.
The guidelines also asked Railways to ensure (in coordination with the service providers) that objectionable sites are not accessible through the free internet service provided by Railways. Moreover, special drives are also being launched to apprehend and prosecute persons consuming alcohol in railway stations and trains.
As per the ministry, pre-Covid data says, among the 2.3 crore population who travel daily by Indian railways, 20 percent are women, and this has become the 'major concern' for the ministry to put an end to heinous crimes against women.
In recent times the crimes against women have been occurring frequently and the incidents in trains and railway premises have been a major problem that need to be solved. Therefore, few steps are being taken by the Indian Railways to collectively strive for the safety of women passengers and to mitigate atrocities against women in railways.
The occurrence of the crime is seen more in the vulnerable and inappropriate places, hence the Ministry has ordered proper lighting arrangements that cover all vulnerable areas identified in railway stations, parking, approach roads, ends of platforms, and maintenance depots, among others. The order also includes the demolition of abandoned structures, after consultation with the engineering department.
The statement said, unauthorized entries and exits must be closed and the yards, pits, and other areas that are nearby railway stations must be kept clean of unwanted vegetation, else may provide cover for offenders to commit crimes.
“Waiting rooms should not remain unattended and persons should be allowed to enter the waiting rooms after proper entry, particularly in nights and at times when there is the minimum presence of passengers, It should be cross-checked by the duty officer at odd hours,” the guidelines said.
CCTV cameras should be positioned in such a way that the identified vulnerable places and women's coaches are covered under the CCTV surveillance to provide adequate coverage, the statement said adding that CCTV feed should be monitored by officers regularly.
The Ministry also said that there should be no gatherings near toilets as most crimes have been reported there.
The guidelines also include instructions for railway employees and contractual staff. Staff engaged in checking rolling stocks, porters, hawkers and vendors should be encouraged to report the incident without loss of time to the police or the station master.
Zonal Railways officials have also been directed to use cultural troupes for NukkadNataks (street plays) to spread awareness about women's safety, cleanliness, and other things.
The Indian Railways has also devised action plans into short-term and long-term plans. As part of the short-term plan, the Ministry will intensify vigilance on suspects, and regular visits to vulnerable spots will be made by duty officers and staff during rounds and the long-term action plan includes improvement of existing infrastructure such as the CCTV system, light masts, and more.
According to the Ministry, this “may take a reasonable time, and should be chased with concerned authorities on a regular basis and till such time it is completed.”
