Are special provisions for women’s safety in rail budget for real or mere sops?

GN Bureau | February 26, 2013



Presenting the railway budget, railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal on Tuesday stressed on women’s safety in the trains. He promised more guards and ladies-special local trains, as also a helpline number to safeguard women during travel.

In addition to the four companies already on duty, the minister said eight new companies of women Railway Protection Force (RPF) would be added to ensure ladies-special trains are escorted by women RPF officials. Besides, Bansal said, there would be a 10-percent reservation for women in the RPF.

While the new measures look good and sound even better, will they be implemented in letter and spirit? Or are these measures mere sops at a time when women’s safety as an issue has assumed national significance?

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