In an initiative aimed at enhancing the security of women passengers, 330 students of the NSS College for Women, Neeramankara, here were enrolled by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) as ‘RPF Mitra.’
These degree and postgraduate students will function as ‘extended cops’ to RPF by informing the RPF control room and designated helpline when they come across incidents of eve-teasing, misbehaviour towards women and other law-and-order issues on trains and railway station premises. The venture is part of the RPF Mitra Yojna, a community policing initiative for ensuring security of passengers with public participation. Already 400 persons have been enrolled in RPF Mitra. “It is the first time that college students are being enrolled as RPF Mitras and if found successful, it will be extended to other colleges and districts in the division,” a top RPF official told The Hindu . The college was selected as nearly 40 per cent of its students commute on trains.
Kerala Women’s Commission chairperson K.C. Rosakutty launched an awareness campaign on the scheme. Divisional Railway Manager Sunil Bajpai and Security Commissioner R.K. Tripathi were present. Information can be passed on to the RPF helpline 99950 40000, Rail Alert 98462 00100, designated RPF numbers or email.
