Parliament Question: Safety Measures for Female Railway Employees Working in Night Shifts

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2909 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2025 SAFETY MEASURES FOR FEMALE RAILWAY EMPLOYEES WORKING IN NIGHT SHIFTS 2909. SHRI KUNDURU RAGHUVEER: Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has assessed the safety conditions of women employees working in night shifts across the Railways including women Loco Pilots/Assistant Loco Pilots, Station Masters, RPF personnel, TTEs, gang workers and other operational ground staff and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether any incidents have been reported during the last five years relating to harassment, abuse, security threats/unsafe working conditions for women railway personnel during night duty and if so, the details thereof; (c) the measures taken/being taken to ensure their safety such as mandatory escort arrangements, CCTV coverage, GPS-enabled crew movement tracking, panic-alert systems, secure rest rooms and deployment of adequate RPF female staff at night; (d) whether the Government proposes to introduce gender-sensitive duty rosters, dedicated transport arrangements and additional security protocols and if so, the details thereof; and (e) the status of implementation of these measures especially in high- risk/understaffed sections, zone-wise? ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW) (a) to (e): ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India and therefore, State Governments are responsible for prevention, detection, registration, and investigationof crime and maintenance of law and order on Railways through their law enforcement agencies viz. Government Railway Police (GRP)/District Police. Railway Protection Force (RPF) supplements the efforts of GRP/ District Police to provide better protection and security to railway property, passenger area and passengers and for matters connected therewith. All cases of crime against women railway personnels are reported to and registered by GRP or District Police as per their jurisdiction followed by investigation and further legal course of action. CCTVs have been installed at number of railway station, which is helpful in monitoring, analysing threats and investigation of cases. The cases of crime against women which includes crime against women railway personnel is published by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). However, the data of crime against women railway personnel is not published separately. Following steps are being taken by the Railways in coordination with GRP and Police for safety and security of women personnel at railway stations and in railway premises: 1. Separate and earmarked provisions have been made for the women employees in the running rooms. 2. Based on the vulnerability assessment, deployment of RPF/GRP personnel are made at railway stations and other vital installation of railways. 3. Drives are conducted against trespassers entering into railway stations and legal action is taken against the offenders.4. State Level Security Committee of Railways (SLSCR) have been constituted under the Chairmanship of Director General of Police/Commissioner of State for regular monitoring and review of security arrangements of the Railways. Railway Servants (Hours of Duty & Period of Rest) Rules, 2005 formulated under the Railways Act, 1989, lay down provisions relating to classification of employment of the railway servants and also for their duty hours and periods of rest which are followed in preparation of duty rosters in order to provide adequate rest to staff. *****