The AIDWA believes that although the Rail Budget placed in Parliament today mentions the issue of women’s safety, the issue cannot be reduced to only one of enhanced surveillance and technological solutions (such as CCTVs and Mobile Apps). The real experience of women on trains is that the GRP and railway administration is insufficient and insensitive to their complaints. There is also a need to increase the number of women’s compartments and prevent men from encroaching in them, improve lighting in all compartments and toilets and on railway stations, post policewomen and have a special helpline for women.
The focus on high speed trains ignores the minimum needs of common people, including cleanliness, affordable and quality food, sufficient toilets, clean drinking water and adequate health services on railway coaches and platforms.
Instead of raising the direct taxes from rich sections to fund the Railway budget, the Minister has opted for the PPP model that will lead to further corporatization. The call for the diversion of pension funds, MP Local area Development (MPLAD) funds, etc. signals evasion of direct responsibility of the central government to increase financial support for this critical sector.
