‘Panic button’ to be installed in Indian Railways for women safety
In order to provide more safety and security to women while travelling in the railways, the North Eastern Railway (NER) plans to deploy women police personnel on trains during night hours as well as install ‘panic buttons’ in coaches.
Focusing on women and child safety, it plans deployment of women police personnel in sub-urban trains during night hours besides recruitment of women in the RPF among others, chief PRO of NER, Sanjay Yadav, told reports.
“These buttons, placed at convenient spots for easy reach of women travellers above the electric switches, when pressed will denote the coach where there is emergency and the railway staff present in the train will be informed to promptly attend to the emergency,” Yadav said.
Currently, women passengers have to depend on either on helpline numbers by call or SMS, or on chain-pulling in emergency situation, he said.
Railway also proposes month-wise calendar of activities with focus on women security and gender sensitisation and upgrade of all-India security helpline.
It also proposes CCTV cameras in women coaches of sub-urban trains with live feed if possible, CCTV cameras on platforms to cover ladies coaches during halt of trains, amendment in the Railways Act to ensure enhanced punishment for offences pertaining to women, he said.
-PTC News
