Address During the Presentation of Colours to the Railway Protection Force, New Delhi

Railways: The National Integration Network

"Courage led to the growth? 
of Human civilization?

I am delighted to be with you today in this colourful, solemn and inspiring ceremony. It gives me great pleasure to present the colours to the Railway Protection Force (RPF). My greetings to Commanding Officers and all ranks of the RPF which is a unique establishment designed to look after the safety of railway assets and the safety of passengers traveling in Indian Railways. I am also happy to note that the 66,000 strong RPF has a compliment of over 3000 women police personnel. I am sure this number will go up to 6000 very soon.

During the last five decades, after the enactment of RPF Act 1957, Railway Protection Force Personnel have been carrying out many operations for providing security to railway property and facilitating safe and secure travel for passengers. Recognizing the acts of courage and bravery demonstrated by RPF personnel over one thousand four hundred medals of various type have been awarded to them including President?s Police Medal for gallantry and distinguished services.

Gallant Performance

I am sure many of you must be aware of the brave action taken by some of your colleagues, who have single handedly encountered the criminals and attempted to retrieve the railway property and save other passengers even at a risk to their life. The courage, determination and commitment exhibited by such RPF personnel while performing their duty must become a model, worthy of emulation for all the RPF personnel in the country.

Safety of Women Passengers

I am happy to know that the lady constables are deployed to assist the lady passengers in major railway stations and special women squads like Tejaswini, Bhairavi etc., have been functioning to prevent offences against lady passengers. RPF may also consider provision of lady RPF team in certain long distance trains for taking care of lady passengers. In addition special squads have been deployed in certain zonal railways for operations against drug-addicts and also innovative methods are being attempted to create awareness about the modus-operandi of criminal gangs amongst the passengers so that they can collectively deal with the criminals.

Information technology in RPF

I suggest that additional technologies are injected in RPF. The high performance computers and microprocessors with fast algorithm software can become one of the most important modules for RPF for networking all the units. In addition, internet provides opportunity to access any type of information faster from any place as communication is linked through satellites. This should be used carefully.

Use of information and communication technology should definitely result in removing the jurisdictional anomalies arising between place of occurrence and place of reporting of crime by passengers. There is a need to remove the division of responsibility between Government Railway Police and Railway Protection Force and empowering the RPF with legal powers to tackle all cognizable offences under the Indian Penal Code and all special acts so that there is a single point responsibility for tackling crimes against railway passengers.

Indian Railways have been using the chain pulling system for many years. Though this system provides an opportunity for the passengers to unilaterally stop the train in an emergency majority of the time this system has been used by wrong elements. With the advent of new technology it may be useful to consider provision of communication system in all the compartments so that the driver and guard can be accessed by any passenger during emergencies for stopping the trains. Such a system is already being followed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Railways may consider incorporating the modern communication system in few of the prestigious trains to begin with. Later, this system can be replicated in other trains based on the field experience.

Emergence of new Technologies

We should make all out efforts to reduce the number of casualties occurring in each operation. The advent of new technologies has provided a new dimension for policing, surveillance and dealing with criminals and maintaining law and order in the trains. Advanced sensors have become crucial to forewarn many situations and to keep surveillance. The provision of state of the art communication systems including mobile systems, night vision devices, information technology solutions, micro gadgets and intelligent networking with security can provide better managed solutions for critical operations. It will help you to plan and execute difficult and complex missions with precision and low casualty rate. With the use of these technologies I am sure, you will come out with flying colors in all your missions.

Suggestions for Railway Protection Force

I would like to make the following suggestions for RPF to make rail journey more safe and secure to the 12 million people including tourists who are making use of the rail services every day.

Performance Analysis: An analysis may be conducted about the frequency and the type of crime occurring against Railway passengers in different parts of the country. Based on this analysis there is a need to work out a special strategy for combating crimes in areas where the frequency and intensity is very high for ensuring safe travel for passengers in this region. Also, there is a need to network all RPF units in the country so that rapid mobilization of additional resources can be done in difficult areas. The Indian Railways name for the service will further be enhanced by incorporating the following addition missions for Railways ? RPF:

a. A child below the age of ten or a senior citizen is able to travel from Kanyakumari to Dispur (Assam) safely like a child or a senior citizen is able to travel from Atlanta to Madurai by air without an escort.

b. A young lady is able to travel safely without a companion from Mumbai to Patna and reach home safely.

c. All the passengers traveling in the trains feel confident that their belongings are safe and do not have to spend sleepless nights worrying about the loss of their luggage.

d. The international tourists are able to feel that train travel in India is passenger friendly, safe and secure.

Railway Protection Force may like to aim for realization of such a level of safety by the year 2010.

Encroachment in Reserved Compartments: In many long distance trains especially when the train reaches the terminal station prior to office time local passengers enter the train and occupy all the reserved compartments and create considerable inconvenience to long distance passengers in certain sectors. Railway Protection Force must analyze this problem and find a solution which will make the travel a pleasure for long distance passengers.

Cautioning passengers against unsolicited hospitality: It is reported few criminals pose as co-passengers, try to give some cool drinks or eatables to other passengers during the journey. This results in genuine passengers becoming unconscious and loosing their belongings. To prevent occurrence of such incidents it is essential to announce as well as position boards in different languages in the compartments warning the passengers not to accept unsolicited hospitality from strangers. This will enable passengers to be cautious and avoid such type of incidents.

Mobile Medical Facility: Railways may consider creation of an emergency medical unit in all long distance trains using one of the bays of an air-conditioned compartment. This unit must be equipped with emergency diagnostic facilities, provision of oxygen, medicines and other life support systems. This unit must be run by a qualified doctor and few paramedical staff, to provide medical assistance in all emergency cases including assistance to children, senior citizens and women in family way.

Silent Integrator

Indian Railways is a silent integrating organization for the nation. It is indeed a very important mission to protect the 12 million passengers who are traveling in the Indian Railways everyday. I visualize a day when pilgrims from different parts of the country travel in a train starting from Varanasi to Rameshwaram and return to Varanasi after successfully completing their pilgrimage similar to tourists traveling between Kanyakumari and Jammu by Himsagar Express.

Conclusion

RPF is in a beautiful mission, when the nation sleeps during night, RPF teams are awake to make the passengers and the railways secure. I can assure you, that RPF personnel are in the minds of the every Indian; we cherish your valour, your commitment and your devotion. I am sure, the RPF will march from strength to strength under the colours which will inspire you to attain greater glory for yourselves, your units, railways and the nation.

I congratulate you on your remarkable turnout, bearing and steadfastness on the parade. I wish you success in all your missions.

May God bless you.