Eye on women’s safety: Cameras, helplines to keep strict vigil
28 Feb 2015 5:18 AM IST
While presenting his maiden Railway Budget 2015-16 in Parliament, Prabhu also dedicated a toll-free number-182 that would be made available on which a woman in need can make a distress call to complain. Additionally, an all-India helpline number, 138, would become functional to attend the problems of passengers on a real-time-basis. A mobile application will be developed that will redress railway-related complaints.
Prabhu said: “Indian Railways would utilise resources from the Nirbhaya fund for augmenting security of women passengers... For the safety of women passengers, surveillance cameras will be provided on a pilot basis in selected mainline coaches and ladies compartments of suburban coaches without compromising on privacy.”
Keeping in mind the large number of female and senior passengers commuting via Indian railways, the Railways Minister said that the middle berth, in three-tier class, would be reserved for women and senior citizens.
Reacting to the Railway Budget, Surekha Saxena, a 45-year-old teacher from Aligarh who regularly travels to Delhi to take classes, said: “I am happy with the Budget and especially that initiatives have been taken to provide a safe environment for women in trains. Travelling alone in Indian railways has become a challenge for us as on daily basis where women are being harassed or they become victims of eve-teasing.”
“Finally, after two years, Nirbhaya fund is being utilised for the safety of women. I hope the promises doesn’t remain on paper only,” said Anuradha Sharma, a 26-year-old Delhi University student.
However, few women are not satisfied by the proposal of installing cameras in certain compartments. “The government should increase the security on the ground rather than keeping a surveillance via CCTV cameras,” Reshma Singh, a housewife said.
Prabhu said: “Indian Railways would utilise resources from the Nirbhaya fund for augmenting security of women passengers... For the safety of women passengers, surveillance cameras will be provided on a pilot basis in selected mainline coaches and ladies compartments of suburban coaches without compromising on privacy.”
Keeping in mind the large number of female and senior passengers commuting via Indian railways, the Railways Minister said that the middle berth, in three-tier class, would be reserved for women and senior citizens.
Reacting to the Railway Budget, Surekha Saxena, a 45-year-old teacher from Aligarh who regularly travels to Delhi to take classes, said: “I am happy with the Budget and especially that initiatives have been taken to provide a safe environment for women in trains. Travelling alone in Indian railways has become a challenge for us as on daily basis where women are being harassed or they become victims of eve-teasing.”
“Finally, after two years, Nirbhaya fund is being utilised for the safety of women. I hope the promises doesn’t remain on paper only,” said Anuradha Sharma, a 26-year-old Delhi University student.
However, few women are not satisfied by the proposal of installing cameras in certain compartments. “The government should increase the security on the ground rather than keeping a surveillance via CCTV cameras,” Reshma Singh, a housewife said.
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