Kolkata, September 28, 2020

 

 

Shri D B Kasar, IG-cum-Principal Chief Security Commissioner, South Eastern Railway (SER) held a Virtual Press Conference at its Headquarters, Garden Reach today. During the Conference, Shri Kasar mentioned about the “Operation My Saheli” and initiative for security and safety of the lady passengers travelling by train in their entire journey from starting station to destination station.

 The IG-cum-Principal Chief Security Commissioner said, the objective of keeping Railway Protection Force (RPF) in SER is to raise public awareness o­n the issue of women security and civic courage by involving the lady passengers in our efforts to provide those environments in which women feel safe, secure and comfortable all along their journey.

 The project has been introduced as a Pilot Project to achieve the aforesaid objective. Initially three trains starting from Howrah of SER have been taken under this Pilot Project. The Howrah-Yesvantpur Duronto Special train has been taken as the first pilot train from September 18, 2020 followed by Howrah-Ahmadabad Special o­n September 20, 2020 and Howrah-Mumbai Special o­n September 21, 2020.

            Shri Kasar briefed the young lady Sub Inspector teams about this operation. They are supposed to interact with the lady passengers in the train at the starting station briefing them about all precautions and they are told to dial 182 or the Mobile number of Zonal Security Control or the mobile number of Operation My Saheli, if they face any problem or see any problem in their coach.

            During interaction the lady Sub Inspector teams obtained the seat number/Mobile number of around 40 to 50 lady passengers generally from 24 coaches of the train to remain in touch throughout their journey.

The same is passed to all the next scheduled stoppage stations and destination station with the request to attend these coaches to physically verify, if any problem is being faced by any of the lady passengers of the subject train.

            Further, The security control of SER created a Broadcast Group of the lady passengers of each pilot train and send bulk messages to all these lady passengers at the start, mid journey and also before end of the journey to remain in regular contact as well as give a call randomly to these lady passengers to get update from the security point of view.

 If scheduled stoppage stations fall at night from 11:00 pm .to 06:00 am, the RPF staff just remain present outside the train and if required, he/she enters and passes the train safely. At the destination point, feedback is taken from the lady passengers.

 

ADVANTAGES:

 (i) As seen from the pilot run of the aforesaid trains, it gives security in real sense to the lady passengers from originating point to the destination and prevents theft of their belongings, eve teasing etc.

(ii)Further these lady passengers also see if any other lady co-passengers are facing any problem, so in a sense they act like Police Observer, as such find them as Force Multipliers.

(iii) In case of any untoward event like dacoity, accident, agitations, holding of trains etc., these passengers can be contacted quickly and we can get a real picture of the situation and can help all the passengers immediately for relief.

(iv)This is done under the framework of ‘Nirbhaya Fund’, so it does not involve any additional expenditure under the head of the Railways.

(v) This has resulted in better and efficient utilization of manpower.

(vi)This is improving the image of railways in the eyes of the public in a big way.

(vii) Despite of COVID, the RPF staff are working day and night by securing and interacting with the railway passengers, thereby setting a good example, it is a moral boost to RPF as well as the railway and passengers in general.

            Shri Kasar apprised the electronic and print media reporters about different cases. In fine, IG-cum-Principal Chief Security Commissioner thanked all the representatives of different media and reporters for taking part in the Virtual Press Conference.

 

 

SSS

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