Southern Railway, a Pioneer in Women Empowerment

CHENNAI:
A peaceful and congenial organisational set up with harmonious working conditions is a boon for women employees. Southern Railway has been taking great strides in this arena of women empowerment. With every department, every division and every wing of the conglomerate embracing women workforce in large numbers, Southern Railway has been taking significant initiatives for the benefit of women employees. Women play pivotal role in the organisation – From Principal Heads of Departments, Senior officials to Gang women, key women, Track maintainers, OHE staff, Lady Station masters, Loco Pilots, counter clerks and RPF personnel, every level in the organisation’s hierarchy adorns women power.
Women achievers of Southern Railway in Sports
Women employees of the zone are encouraged into participating in Inter-railway/National and International sports tournaments. Many women staff have brought laurels to the organisation by bagging championships in various sports events. L.Surya, an outstanding international Athlete is working as a Ticket Checking Staff in Trichy Division of Southern Railway. She has represented India in various International Championships and earned accolades this year.  P.Anitha, an international Basket Ball player has represented the country in various sports events from the year 2000 to 2017.  Minimol Abraham is an international Volley Ball player working as Ticket Checking staff has represented India in Asian Games.
Privileges and facilities for women passengers
Southern Railway, a predominantly passenger-oriented railway, has been endeavouring to provide a number of facilities for women passengers.
Safety of Women passengers
Safety of women commuters is accorded topmost priority. As part of enhancing security, Southern Railway has implemented Integrated Security System at 14 important Railway Stations by way of providing CCTVS Under Nirbhaya Fund.
CCTVS are to be provided in 136 A1, A, B, C category stations including Suburban Railway Stations and as a trial measure, work has been completed in Nungambakkam Railway station.
To ensure safety in Chennai suburban, 4 Ladies special EMUs are escorted by Women RPF staff called “Sakthi Padai’ and ladies coaches of 08 Express trains are escorted by Women RPSF personnel. Further, ladies coaches of 137 EMU trains running between 18.00 hrs and 06.00 hrs are also escorted by RPF personnel.
Three platoons including one “Mahila Platoon of RPSF” is being deployed for strengthening of passenger security especially for Women passengers.
Women Facilitation Centres
Women Facilitation Centres are functional at Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore, Trichy, Madurai, Coimbatore, Calicut and Thiruvananthapuram railway stations to render assistance to women passengers round the clock. The centre is manned by Women staff of Commercial department and RPF personnel. The centre provides rail-related assistance to women passengers such as booking of pre-paid autos/taxis, booking of retiring rooms, Train/Platform related information, lodging of complaints with RPF/GRP, to mention a few. Baby feeding facility is also available at these centres.
Other facilities for lady passengers
Exclusive Waiting halls for lady passengers are provided at major stations over Southern Railway. Besides senior citizens, pregnant women, female passengers 45 years of age and above are given preference in lower berth quota which is earmarked exclusively for such passengers . Women senior citizens 58 years of age and above can avail a travel concession of 50% on basic fare in Mail/Express trains. Ladies bay, ladies coaches and Ladies special EMUs add to the list of women-friendly facilities.
Girl students upto Under Graduate level can avail monthly concessional Season tickets for free travel in Second Ordinary class between stations serving place of residence and school/college under certain conditions of eligibility. Further, girl students studying in rural areas can avail 75% concession in Second Class for attending National level Entrance Examination for Medical, Engineering and other Professional courses in college.