Archive · 8 Nov 2025
Kerala Launches "Operation Rakshitha" Amidst Rising Concerns for Women's Safety on Trains
Imagine trains are like big buses on tracks, and sometimes, unfortunately, women don't feel safe when they travel, especially in the regular, non-reserved sections.
Recently, a young woman was seriously hurt after being pushed off a moving train.
This sad event has made the police and railway guards say, "We need to do better!".
So, they've started a special program called 'Operation Rakshitha' to watch over women passengers more carefully.
They are putting more police on trains and platforms to make sure everyone is safe.
This is similar to a program already helping women traveling alone.
However, even with these new efforts, people worry that there aren't enough police officers, and some safety ideas have not been put into action.
They hope these new patrols will really help keep women safer on their train journeys.
A 19-year-old woman was critically injured after being kicked off a moving train in Kerala, reigniting concerns about women's safety on railways.
In response, the Railway Protection Force and General Railway Police have launched 'Operation Rakshitha' for intensive patrolling and passenger safety.
The operation aims to improve security in trains and on platforms, with a focus on women's compartments, and has already registered 72 cases.
Despite past promises and safety measures, many proposed actions remain unimplemented, and there is a significant shortage of railway police personnel.
Ongoing initiatives like 'Meri Saheli' and the Rail Madad Helpline are also being promoted to assist women passengers, especially those traveling alone.
- Who
- Railway Protection Force (RPF) and General Railway Police (GRP) jointly with women police officers and personnel.
- What
- Launched 'Operation Rakshitha' with intensive patrolling in trains and on platforms, focusing on compartments where women passengers travel, and registered 72 cases. Also highlighted ongoing initiatives like 'Meri Saheli' and use of Rail Madad Helpline (139).
- When
- Operation launched on Friday; incidents date back to 2011 and 2025.
- Where
- Across Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Palakkad, and Kozhikode zones in Kerala.
- Why
- To address recurring and horrific incidents of attacks on women passengers, especially in general compartments, and to enhance overall passenger safety.
- Operation Name
- Operation Rakshitha
- Initiating Authorities
- Railway Protection Force (RPF) and General Railway Police (GRP)
- Date Launched
- Friday (implied recently)
- Focus
- Ensuring safety of women passengers, particularly in general compartments
- Target Zones
- Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Kozhikode
- Cases Registered
- 72 (as part of the drive)
- Vacant Posts (Southern Railway)
- Over 13,977