More than 17,000 men were caught for travelling in ladies' coach on Western Railway last year, bringing into focus the plight of women travellers on the city's lifeline.
Ahead of Women's Day, in order to bring these numbers down the Western Railway officials have started a special campaign during which the railway officials will catch the offenders and penalise them. In 2019, 14,307 men were caught travelling in women compartments. While in January and February 2020, 2,981 men were caught travelling in ladies' coach, reported Lok Satta.
Recently, CCTV cameras were installed in women’s compartments of a few trains on Western Railway and Central Railway. The Integral Coach Factory which is Chennai acting on the direction of the Railway ministry will soon manufacture trains that connect CCTV surveillance to screens in the cabins of the motorman and GRP guard.
The number of atrocities against women increased in 2019, with crimes such as rape, kidnapping, and domestic abuse saw a spike, revealed the Economic Survey's findings.
In 2019, a crime against women has increased to 37,567 against 35,497 in 2018. Of these 37,567 cases, rape has risen to 5,412 against 4,974, kidnapping and abduction 8,382 against 6,825, cruelty by husband and relatives 7,564 against 6,862.
