The Railway Police Force (RPF) has launched RPF Sakhi - a WhatsApp group that connects women commuters throught different groups. The initiative is meant to ensure the safety of women on the Western Railways (WR)
Women RPF at a Mumbai station
A recent initiative by the Railway Police Force (RPF), known as Mahila Vahini comprises of 90 women RPF officers. The initiative was started in August 2015 and was meant to ensure the safety of women on the Western Railways (WR).
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In a report by The Indian Express, said that the function of this initiative was to maintain law and order, attend to women commuter’s grievances with the railways. The overwhelming positive response by commuters prompted the formation of RPF Sakhi – a whatsapp group that connects women commuters via WhatsApp groups.
Gayatri Patel, a 35-year-old inspector and head of Mahila Vahini, said, “RPF Sakhi was started in February 2016. Woman RPF officers boarded trains and spread the word about the new initiative. It didn’t take long for commuters to respond positively. We attend to a lot of problems on a regular basis ranging from petty issues like lost personal goods, seat-cornering, door-blocking, frivolous arguments and scuffles among passengers to more serious ones like dealing with hawkers, beggars and occasional cases of stone-pelting. ” she added.
A regular commuter, Deepika Ganghawane said, “I travel every day for work from Navi Mumbai to Marine Lines via a connecting train from Dadar. Sometimes it gets really crowded and that’s when people get frustrated and fight over seats. In one instance, it really got ugly and women started abusing and beating up each other.”
Ravinder Bhaker, Chief Public Relations Officer, Western Railway, was of the opinion that the team plays a crutial role in ensuring the safety of women passengers. “They are the backbone of women’s security on the railways,” he added.
While it seems like everything is working smoothly, there is a severe paucity of staff and as per Patel they need at least 110 more women officers. As per Patel, stations like Grant Road, Mumbai Central, Lower Parel and Mahalaxmi do not have permanent woman RPF staff and as of now two women officers have been given the task temporarily. She added, “Staff shortage means increased workload on existing recruits, lack of ample rest and adequate holidays.”
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