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Women's Day: Zonal Rlys to run trains with all-women crew

Kolkata: In a major initiative, the Indian Railways decided to encourage the women power to celebrate the forthcoming International Women's Day across all zones for 10 long days, commencing from March 1, 2020. According to the ministry, the zonal railways have been asked to run a train with the all-women crew at least for a day in the stipulated timeline, till March 10, 2020, aiming to empower its women employees.

So far, the North-Eastern Railway, Central Railway, Kolkata Metro, Northern Railway, North-Central Railway, East-Central Railway and Southern Railway have already operated all-women crew train in the respective zones. The theme of the Campaign is #EachforEqual - signifying a Gender Equal world.

"Railway is also focusing on #SheInspiresUs highlighting the inspiring stories of women achievers. In this campaign, Indian Railways is highlighting the steps taken to provide exclusive facilities to the women passengers, to empower women employees and enhance the role of women employees working in Indian Railways," a ministry statement mentioned.

Significantly, railways also providing women passengers of a minimum of 58 years of 50 per cent concession in the fare of all classes in mail or express, Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Jan Shatabdi trains. Girls upto graduation, professional or vocational courses will be facilitated for a free second class monthly season ticket. Girl students of government schools in the rural areas, appearing for entrance exams for national level Medical, Engineering etc are eligible for 75 per cent concession in second class.

Focusing the ease of the women passengers, in the PRS, there is already a provision to allot lower berths to senior citizens, female passengers of 45 years and above automatically, even if no choice is given, subject to availability of accommodation at the time of booking.

Further, a reservation quota of six berths in sleeper class in long-distance Mail or Express trains and a reservation quota of six berths in 3AC class of Garib Rath, Rajdhani, Duronto or any fully air-conditioned Express trains have been earmarked for female passengers irrespective of their age travelling alone or in a group of female passengers. A combined quota of six to seven lower berths per coach in Sleeper class, four to five lower berths per coach each in 3AC and three to four lower berths per coach in 2AC classes has been earmarked for senior citizens, female passengers 45 years of age and above and pregnant women.

Further, women recipients of president's police medal for distinguished service and Indian Police award for meritorious service are also eligible for 60 per cent concession in all classes of Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Jan Shatabdi trains.

War widows, widows of Indian Peace Keeping Force (I.P.K.F.) personnel killed in action in Sri Lanka, widows of policemen and paramilitary personnel and defence personnel killed in action against terrorist and extremists and widows of Martyrs of operation Vijay in Kargil in 1999 are also entitled to 75 per cent concession in second and sleeper class already.

The Zonal Railways are also conducting a host of programmes like a march or run, a talk or lecture by distinguished women speaker, a nukkad natak, and videos specifying women empowerment to be screened on TVs provided at platforms, AC lounges, and waiting rooms and in running trains on Women's Day.

(Image from livemint.com)

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