for prevention of sexual harassment of women passengers traveling on train
The Commission has issued directions to the Ministry of Railway, Government of India, for the better protection of women passengers in trains.
Initially, in 1998, the Commission received a petition from Jagori, a Delhi based NGO, which highlighted an incident of sexual harassment of women passengers who were subjected to misbehaviour by some army personnel. Taking serious note of the matter, the Commission took up the issue with the DG, Railway Protection Force (RPF) and later with the Chairman of the Railway Board and the Office of the Minister for Railways.
The DG, RPF informed the Commission that instructions had been issued to RPF officers of all Zonal Railways to take action for dealing with such situations in accordance with the powers available under existing laws. The RPF also assured the Commission that they were conducting surprise raids/drives and that prosecutions were being undertaken under the provisions of the Railways Act, 1989.
The Chairman, Railway Board, in his reply to the Commission mentioned that directions had been issued to the General Managers of all Zonal Railways to sensitize their Commercial Staff, Railway Protection Force and the Government Railway Police concerned to prevent crimes against women passengers and ensure proper coordination of all agencies concerned in dealing with this problem.
The Office of the Minister of Railways also informed the Commission that separate instructions from the Minister’s office would be issued to ensure full involvement of the Ministry in addressing this problem.
In view of these responses, the Commission had felt that the Ministry of Railways had taken up the issue of the protection of women passengers traveling by in the manner expected. Regarding the specific incident referred to in the complaint, the Commission was informed that it had been inquired by the army authorities in a proceeding for Court Martial. Thus the Commission, on 10 May 2000, decided to close the case.
However, the matter came before the Commission again following the publication of an article in the magazine ‘Outlook’ dated 2 April 2001 which highlighted that the problem of the harassment of women passengers, indicating that it still persisted.
After detailed discussions on the subject with the officials of the Railways and the RPF and representatives of NGOs, the Commission felt that it was necessary at this stage to take follow-up action by way of monitoring of the compliance of the directions issued by the authorities concerned in respect of the safety of women passengers.
The Commission has thus called for a further report from the Chairman, Railway Board, asking for complete details.
In the meantime, the Commission has directed the Railway Board to ensure that FIR forms are easily available and that the public are provided complete information about the procedures to be followed in filing FIRs in running trains. FIR forms should also be made available in all the languages used along the routes concerned. The Railway Board should set-up notices at strategic points in all railway stations/coaches highlighting that sexual assaults, obscene remarks and various kinds of unwanted attention were forms of sexual harassment and, therefore, offences punishable by law under the Indian Penal Code and the Railways Act. Such messages should also be displayed on closed-circuit TV at Railway platforms. Information given to the public concerning harassment of women passengers in trains could be depicted in graphics making it easier for the public to comprehend the information. The Railways should also disseminate information regarding whom precisely women passengers should approach in order to lodge their complaints. Trains and routes on which maximum complaints have been registered should be given priority with regard to implementation of these steps. The officials should be sensitised in respect of issues relating to the protection of women and there should be a periodical review of the progress of the implementation of measures taken for the safety of women passengers.
Initially, in 1998, the Commission received a petition from Jagori, a Delhi based NGO, which highlighted an incident of sexual harassment of women passengers who were subjected to misbehaviour by some army personnel. Taking serious note of the matter, the Commission took up the issue with the DG, Railway Protection Force (RPF) and later with the Chairman of the Railway Board and the Office of the Minister for Railways.
The DG, RPF informed the Commission that instructions had been issued to RPF officers of all Zonal Railways to take action for dealing with such situations in accordance with the powers available under existing laws. The RPF also assured the Commission that they were conducting surprise raids/drives and that prosecutions were being undertaken under the provisions of the Railways Act, 1989.
The Chairman, Railway Board, in his reply to the Commission mentioned that directions had been issued to the General Managers of all Zonal Railways to sensitize their Commercial Staff, Railway Protection Force and the Government Railway Police concerned to prevent crimes against women passengers and ensure proper coordination of all agencies concerned in dealing with this problem.
The Office of the Minister of Railways also informed the Commission that separate instructions from the Minister’s office would be issued to ensure full involvement of the Ministry in addressing this problem.
In view of these responses, the Commission had felt that the Ministry of Railways had taken up the issue of the protection of women passengers traveling by in the manner expected. Regarding the specific incident referred to in the complaint, the Commission was informed that it had been inquired by the army authorities in a proceeding for Court Martial. Thus the Commission, on 10 May 2000, decided to close the case.
However, the matter came before the Commission again following the publication of an article in the magazine ‘Outlook’ dated 2 April 2001 which highlighted that the problem of the harassment of women passengers, indicating that it still persisted.
After detailed discussions on the subject with the officials of the Railways and the RPF and representatives of NGOs, the Commission felt that it was necessary at this stage to take follow-up action by way of monitoring of the compliance of the directions issued by the authorities concerned in respect of the safety of women passengers.
The Commission has thus called for a further report from the Chairman, Railway Board, asking for complete details.
In the meantime, the Commission has directed the Railway Board to ensure that FIR forms are easily available and that the public are provided complete information about the procedures to be followed in filing FIRs in running trains. FIR forms should also be made available in all the languages used along the routes concerned. The Railway Board should set-up notices at strategic points in all railway stations/coaches highlighting that sexual assaults, obscene remarks and various kinds of unwanted attention were forms of sexual harassment and, therefore, offences punishable by law under the Indian Penal Code and the Railways Act. Such messages should also be displayed on closed-circuit TV at Railway platforms. Information given to the public concerning harassment of women passengers in trains could be depicted in graphics making it easier for the public to comprehend the information. The Railways should also disseminate information regarding whom precisely women passengers should approach in order to lodge their complaints. Trains and routes on which maximum complaints have been registered should be given priority with regard to implementation of these steps. The officials should be sensitised in respect of issues relating to the protection of women and there should be a periodical review of the progress of the implementation of measures taken for the safety of women passengers.