The Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) has asked the Ministry of Railways to install emergency buttons in trains and in washrooms to ensure better safety for women while travelling.
The WCD also wants the Railways to provide seats or berths to a woman travelling solo, close to other female passengers. This option could be exercised by a woman while booking the ticket.
WCD Minister Maneka Sanjay Gandhi suggested some measures like display of women helpline numbers in coaches, stations and on tickets in a letter to Union Railways, Minister Piyush Goyal. The letter said, “Women helpline number (toll-free helpline number 182 and All India helpline 138) are in use at a few places. However, women are sometimes unaware of such a helpline.”
It also said that railways should be advertising these numbers through stickers in all compartments and stations.
Menaka said in the letter, “Unfortunately, trains and railway premises are vulnerable areas for women and cases of sexual assault, molestation keep getting reported.”
The WCD Minister also pointed out that the connectivity to helpline numbers during travel is also one of the major concerns. “Railways may improve connectivity in no signal zones or take up the issue with telecom operators for providing shared networks for calling helpline numbers under emergency or SOS call provisions,” she said.
The WCD Ministry has also suggested that CCTV cameras should be installed in all the trains and their working must be ensured.
