Shoe-shiners, porters & stall staff to act as ‘third eye’ for RPF

The objective of the scheme is to involve passengers, shoe shiners, food stalls employees and porters to prevent or detect crime on railway premises and also establish a two-way communication with passengers and redress security related grievances and to improve functioning of the RPF by obtaining feedback, among others.

Anand Vijay Jha , senior Divisional Security Commissioner (DSC), RPF, Western Railway (Mumbai Division), said, “The RPF wants to expand its network of informants by including commuters, passengers and non-governmental organisations in the loop. This will help RPF to reduce the distance with public.”

Citing as an example, Jha said, “Ragpickers are allowed to take plastic bottles from dustbins, but at the same time they are also instructed to clean the space and throw the garbage in dustbins at stations. In an open system like suburban railways, it is very difficult to stop ragpickers from entering railway premises and taking plastic bottles from garbage, but atleast now they are doing their work with more dedication and in a better manner that benefits the railways.”

The decision to start Mitra Yojana was taken after officers realised that tip-offs from those present at stations or along railway yards were quite beneficial for the security agency, which is already facing a staff crunch.

With Mumbai railways being perceived as soft targets for various kinds of attacks and disruptions, the RPF decided to develop sources at railway stations.

As a part of the initiative, around 100 people including railway porters, shoe-shiners, urchins, rag pickers, taxi drivers at Mumbai central station have been recently counseled to keep a check on passenger luggage, maintain a general vigil and also inform RPF in case of any suspicious activity is taking place at stations.

“Such drives are being conducted between Churchgate and Virar railway stations to cope up with any critical situation that can affect the safety of passengers and their belongings and also property of Railways ,” said Jha.

kalpana.verma@expressindia.com