Title - Women passengers don’t use helplines

Chennai: Just a few days ago the railway police rescued a woman passenger who had taken refuge in a toilet after a drunk TTE made an attempt to molest her. Petrified, she rang her relatives for help and they in turn called the police.

She apparently had no idea she could call the helplines being operated by the General Railway Police (GRP) and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) which have been launched for people  like  her, who may be in trouble. Several other women passengers too admit they  are not familiar with the railway helplines in operation. 

Says Rani K a regular traveller to Kerala, “It would be good if such numbers are made more visible or advertised at the stations and on trains, so we could  make use of them when necessary.” Asked what she would have done in an emergency and she replied,  “I would have dialled 100.” But 100 is not easy to reach as hundreds are calling it at any given time.

The GRP, on the other hand,  is ready to respond in quick time  as it has its own women wing headed by a woman sub-inspector. Says S. Sekar, an inspector with the GRP, “Our help­line (toll free number 99625 00500) can be reached 24 hours and are also put on display on all north bound trains.” 

The RPF too has a special helpline (2535 3999) for women  manned by a lady constable and a general number, 90031 61710, for complaints.

“In a month we receive almost 500 calls as even if the victim dials 100 the call is  transferred to us,”  says a railway officer.  But if the railways want to reach out more directly more publicity for the helplines is clearly the way to do it.