Vijayawada: The South Central Railway (SCR) has launched ‘Meri Saheli’, an action for the safety of women travellers, particularly those travelling alone.
A railroad official stated, “SCR identified eight important trains plying under its jurisdiction and organised the ‘Meri Saheli’ campaign to increase awareness among women passengers.”
The eight trains include the Golconda Express, Rayalaseema Express, Godavari Express, Sachkand Express, Nandigram Express, Mysore Express and Amaravati Express.
A group of women Railway Protection Force (RPF) Sub-Inspectors or staff will communicate with the women travellers at the originating stations as a part of the security initiative.
The official included, “The women passengers are being briefed about all the precautions to be taken during the journey and are advised to dial 182 in case of emergency.”
The RPF group gathers the seat numbers of female travellers and gives them to the respective RPF teams at the railway stations en route the journey.
The authority stated, “The platform duty RPF personnel at the stations en route will keep an unobtrusive watch over the coaches and berths concerned and, if need be, interact with the women passengers.”
Onboard the trains, railroad police escorts will cover the identified seats and berths.
It was believed that criminals engaged with human trafficking may attempt to indulge in the trafficking of women and kids exploiting the festive season rush as they are mostly vulnerable to this crime. Activity intended to control the menace of human trafficking during the approaching festive season was talked about. It was concluded that a concerted and sustained drive will be dispatched to identify and catch the traffickers.
RPF groups at the destination will gather the feedback from the identified women travellers and their response will be reviewed for remedial actions whenever required. In the event a distress call comes from a train covered under Meri Saheli activity the response will be monitored by senior officials, the authorities added.
The authority included, “If a distress call comes from any lady passenger travelling in the train under the ‘Meri Saheli’ initiative, the disposal of the call is monitored at the level of senior officers in the division concerned.”
In addition to the eight trains, the railway zone is likewise offering this security to other zones’ trains going through the SCR zone.
