In the last 24 hours, two cases of molestation surfaced in the city which was shocking and have once again raised a question on women’s safety. Considering women’s safety, the central railway had launched a panic button last year in May but, it is still running on a trial basis. It is being said that if there would have been a panic button in the compartment, it would have saved a 14-year-old girl who jumped off the local train fearing molestation.
Also Read: 14-Year-Old Girl Jumps Off Moving Train After Being Threatened By A Man In The Ladies Compartment
When Mumbai Live spoke to Railway Division Manager S K Jain about the same, he replied that the proposal has not been executed.
For women’s safety we will be installing CCTV cameras in all ladies compartment and then we will re-think of installing panic buttons as a lot of times, women misuse the service,” said S K Jain, Divisional Railway Manager, Central Railway.
Jain added that despite upping the safety measures, women are still being molested. Meanwhile, CR’s PRO Sunil Udasi added that more effective measures will be taken for women’s safety.
In May 2017, CR came out with a safety feature called 'Panic Buttons' which helped women in distress by alerting the motorman. If a distressed woman pushes the red button, the motorman will stop the train and will not move until the problem is solved. It was installed on a trial basis. The panic button was designed by Matunga workshop officials who believed that the button would prove useful for women commuters during an emergency. After installing the panic buttons, officials also stick posters in order to teach commuters the use of the button.
However, this incident did not go well with an NCP women wing leader Chitra Wagh who took a dig at Indian Railways and state government over the missing panic buttons on Twitter.
रेल्वे ने गाजावाजा करून महिलासुरक्षेसाठी पॅनिक बटन बसवले म्हणून सांगितले कुठे आहे पॅनिक बटण ?? (५/६)https://twitter.com/supriya_sule?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@supriya_sule https://t.co/2xjkGB1Pfc">pic.twitter.com/2xjkGB1Pfc
— Chitra Kishor Wagh (@chitrancp) https://twitter.com/chitrancp/status/922392716218003456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2017
She also spoke about the rusted emergency chain, which the victim tried to pull. Wagh questioned the state government officials about women's safety which has gone for a toss.
ट्रेन मध्ये संकटकाळात खेचायची साखळी प्रयत्न करूनही गंजल्यामुळे खेचली गेली नाही याची दखल रेल्वे प्रशासन घेईल का (४/६) https://t.co/R4wdsSbsro">pic.twitter.com/R4wdsSbsro
— Chitra Kishor Wagh (@chitrancp) https://twitter.com/chitrancp/status/922392211395719168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2017
14-year-old Payal Kamble boarded Kalyan-bound train at CSTM when the accused entered the same compartment. Seeing her alone, he tried cornering her, meanwhile, she tried pulling emergency chain but it did not come down. Sensing the fear of molestation, she ran towards the door and jumped off the train.
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