32 AWARDS PRESENTED AT THE RAILWAY PROTECTION FORCE (RPF) INVESTITURE CEREMONY

She said that it is really heartening to know that the first time President Police Medal for gallantry has been awarded to RPF for showing exemplary bravery during terrorist attack on 26th November, 2008 at CST Railway Station, Mumbai. She congratulated RPF personnel who were the winners of various awards.

The Railway Minister said that the law & order is a state subject and hence RPF has to coordinate effectively with GRPs of State Governments to provide best security to the travellers. She said that it is also the duty of the Railway administration to take care of the total welfare of the family of RPF personnel who are providing dedicated service and risking their lives for the security of passengers and railway property.

She said that it must also be borne in mind that the Railways basically serve the travelling needs of the common and poor people hence it is necessary to be sensitive towards the problems of the traveling public specially senior citizens and women. They have to be served with human face. Referring to the recent incident of fatal attack by miscreants on a GRP constable on board Malda – Katihar passenger train, she said that Railways, as a special case, gave ex-gratia payment to the family of the deceased and also decided to provide a job to one eligible member of the deceased’s family. This has been done as a humanitarian gesture as the GRP constable sacrificed his life while performing his duty of protecting passengers. In the same context, she also expressed her deep sympathy with the widow Ms. D. Bhagyalakshmi whose late husband D. Satyanarayana, a Head Constable at Tuni in Vijayawada Division of South Central Railway sacrificed his life while chasing thieves on December 14, 2008. She directed to give suitable job to her. This kind of sensitivity and humanity needs to be shown in all our functioning, she added.

She said that there is a need to serve the passengers with due courtesy and keeping the human face. She announced a new Minister of Railway Award to be given to the RPF personnel for working with humanity in mind, providing service with smile and for maintaining human face in discharge of duties.

The Railway Minister emphasised that safety and security are top priorities of Indian Railways and resources available with RPF both men and material are needed to be further augmented. The Railway Minister informed that she has recently approved creation of more than 5000 new posts in RPF and the proposal has been sent to the Ministry of Finance.

Referring to the Commando Units being raised by RPF, she said that ‘Mahila Commando Company’ will also be soon raised.

Later inaugurating the Fete of RPF Wives Welfare Association, Kumari Mamata Banerjee said that this Association should also work like other Railway Women Organisations which besides serving the Railway families also undertake social service activities during natural calamities like flood, earthquakes etc. She also advised the Association to take care of the welfare of the families of RPF in full measure and also suggested them to take care of the education of the child of the deceased constable. D. Satyanarayana.

In his speech, Minister of State, Shri K.H. Muniyappa said that security of all railway passengers, their belongings and railway property is the most important issue which requires constant monitoring and round the clock action. He underscored the fact that rail safety and security performance have to be improved to international best practice standards so as to remove the apprehensions and fear from the minds of the rail passengers. Referring to the unrelented efforts of RPF personnel in serving Railways, Shri Muniyappa emphasized the need to continue and bring in improvement in the Railway security which is interlinked with the national security. He also said that there is a need for augmenting the training and skill of the RPF staff . Shri Muniyappa said that scarcity of fund or other resources will not be allowed to come in the way of modernizing process of RPF. He pointed out to the sanctioning of around Rs. 350 crore for installation of integrated Security System over sensitive and vulnerable stations to strengthen surveillance mechanism. Besides this, Rs. 66 crore has already been distributed amongst the Zonal Railways for procurement of modern security items, he added. Shri Muniyappa said that special attention is being paid for security of women passengers and more women RPF squads are being deployed for this purpose.

In his welcome speech, Director General, RPF, Shri Ranjit Sinha recounted the achievements of RPF. He said that 32 RPF personnel have been awarded during the year which include three prestigious Presidents Police Medals and 20 Indian Police Medals and two Gallantry Awards. He said that over 14 lakh offenders were prosecuted under the Sections of the Railways Act in the year 2008. He said that 12 Commando Units have been raised for special duties and RPFs own training centre will be set up at Canning in West Bengal. Shri Sinha said that RPF is also strengthening its presence in Naxal affected areas and J&K. He also informed that FBI, USA, at their own cost, has also agreed to train six RPF personnel.

Kumari Mamata Banerjee presented the Award Medals to various recipients of awards. Earlier, Minister of State for Railways, Shri K.H. Muniyappa, took the general salute of the RPF Parade and also inspected the Parade. There was also March past by the RPF contingents. The RPF contingent with Sniffer dogs was the special attraction of the Parade.