Operation meri saheli reaches 2 lakh single women passengers in SWR

HUBBALLI: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) of South Western Railway (SWR) has been successfully implementing Operation Meri Saheli, a dedicated initiative launched in November 2020 to ensure the safety and security of women passengers travelling alone.

The initiative includes collecting feedback from passengers, conducting awareness campaigns, and deploying women officers on selected trains to help with boarding and alighting, handling emergency situations, and ensuring overall comfort and security.SWR stated in a press release that at present, 250 dedicated Meri Saheli teams, comprising lady RPF personnel, are being deployed across the Indian railway network.

"These teams attend to approximately 500 trains daily, assisting nearly 13,000 women passengers travelling alone," the release added.It also mentioned that RPF teams interacted with 2,08,869 single women passengers travelling in 4,869 trains, offering assistance and ensuring safe travel. "At present, 10 Meri Saheli teams consisting of 25 RPF personnel are deployed under the project across SWR limits. The teams assist women with safe boarding and alighting from trains, providing information and support during the journey, and responding to and addressing any emergencies or issues.

Confidence-building measures have greatly enhanced women passengers’ sense of safety and trust in rail travel," it claimed.SWR also stated that information about single women passengers is shared in advance with headquarters and intermediate stations to allow for checks and assistance along the route. "Feedback is regularly collected from women passengers at the end of their journey to assess effectiveness and introduce improvements. Operation Meri Saheli has emerged as one of the most successful women-centric safety initiatives of Indian Railways. By offering proactive engagement, timely guidance, and dedicated presence, RPF has ensured a secure environment for women passengers, making their journeys safer, more comfortable, and more confident," SWR asserted.