More woman cops, but women still scared

KOCHI: Keeping in mind the vulnerable areas under the South Zone of the  Indian Railways in Kerala, the Railway Protection Force is set to  appoint 18 more woman constables on trains from this week.Most of them will be deployed on trains running via the Ernakulam route. But, despite the positive decision taken by the Railways, the woman  passengers are still apprehensive about the security provided to them once   they alight from the trains.“The question of safety arises when we get out at stations during night.  Usually, we hardly find any police official at the station during night,” Sandhya G, a commuter, said.  And, the problem worsens when there are no woman police officials serving at the stations during night.“It is true that the male constables are helpful. But, it would be safer if there is a woman constable to turn to while we are  stranded at the station,” said Sandhya.There are complaints that even the police officials don’t treat woman passengers with respect. “I have often felt this when I reach the railway stations,” Nirmala P, another passenger, says.Both the Railway Police and the Railway Protection Force admit that being  men they have felt that women don’t want to approach them with complaints. “If it happens that way, we cannot guarantee the safety of women at railway stations,” Railway Junction station sub-inspector Vinod said.“The only solution is to guarantee the women that there is a dedicated body for them at all railway stations. Now we are forced to rely upon the Women Cell if they have to register their complaints.  We have brought this to the notice of authorities and are awaiting action,” he said.RPF commissioner Joy said the lack of rest rooms for women in the  railway stations is posing a problem. “Some of the smaller stations have   just one rest room for both men and women. There is a huge risk, especially  at night,”.  The Railway Protection Force has taken the decision to appoint more woman constables in ladies compartments keeping in mind the lack of security on trains that pass through different areas in Kerala.“At present, we hope to deploy the women officials on trains in the  Ernakulam-Alappuzha, Ernakulam-Kottayam and Ernakulam-Shoranur areas, which have been identified as unsafe regions for women passengers. Woman officials  will be deployed on the Thiruvananthapuram-Kollam passenger trains,” Joy said.