Railway Minister Successfully Concludes Two Day London Visit
Railway Minister Successfully
Concludes Two Day London Visit
The
Two Sides (India-UK) Discussed Investments in Indian Infrastructure Including
Rail Sector
Suresh
Prabhu Addresses a High Level Investors Round-Table in London
Shri
Suresh Prabhu also Visits London Stock Exchange
The
Indian Delegation also Visits Railway Stations in London Area to Apprise itself
with the Redevelopment of Stations
UK
Investors Exhibit Positive Inclination to Commit Long-Term Funds for
Infrastructure
Minister of Railways, Government of India Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu
successfully concluded his two day official visit to London, UK on 29th and
30th October, 2015. The visit came at the invitation of the
Government of UK. The other Members of the Indian Delegation included
Shri Ranjan Mathai, High Commissioner of India, Shri Rajiv Datt, Managing
Director(MD), Indian Railway Finance Corporation (Indian Railway PSU), Shri
Saikant Sen Sharma, First Secretary(Economic) Indian High Commission, UK.
On 29th October, Indian Railway Minister Shri Suresh Prabhu
met with Rt Hon Oliver Letwin, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and
Minister in charge of cabinet affairs Government of UK and Rt Hon Patrick
McLoughlin, Secretary of State for Transport, Government of UK to discuss
investments in Indian infrastructure and areas of mutual cooperation in the
Rail sector. The proposed issuance of Rupee bonds overseas by Indian corporates
was also discussed. The UK side welcomed these proposals and promised to assist
in ensuring success in these endeavors.
Again on 29th October, along with the UK Ministers Shri
Prabhu addressed a High level Investors Roundtable. The investors were
unanimous in their appreciation of India’s growth effort and were positively
inclined to commit long term funds for the infrastructure sector. The investors
also welcomed the recent announcement permitting Indian corporates to issue
Rupee bonds overseas. The investors indicated that there would be good appetite
for well-known names.
On 30th October, Shri Prabhu visited the London Stock
Exchange and met another set of leading investors. The response to Government’s
initiatives and proposals was well received and there was general agreement
that investors have a positive outlook on India and are prepared to commit
funds including investment in Rupee bonds.
The
investors(banks/financial institutions) who participated in these interactions
included Standard Life, Citibank, SBI UK, SBI Caps UK, Prime Bridge
Investments, London Stock Exchange, Standard Chartered Bank, ANZ bank, HSBC
bank, Kotak Mahindra. UK, Exim Bank of India, Blue Bay Investments, Black Rock
Investments, Deutche Bank, U K Green Investment Bank, Russell Investments,
Jupiter Asset Management, HSBC, SBI Capital, Investec, BAML, Redington and JP
Morgan
In addition, the Indian delegation also visited three stations in London
area where considerable redevelopment of property has taken place.
************
Investiture Parade of Railway
Protection Force (RPF) Organized
RPF Officers
/ Personnel were Conferred with Awards at the Investiture Parade
Women Security App
for Mobile Phones will be Launched on All India Basis : Suresh Prabhu
Strategic cell to
be set up to Meet Growing Security Challenges : Suresh Prabhu
Security Helpline
has Come as a Big Assistance to Travelling Public : Manoj Sinha
The Railway Protection Force
(RPF) organized its Investiture Parade
– 2015 today i.e. on 03.11.2015 at 6th Bn. RPSF, Dayabasti, New
Delhi. The Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu was the
Chief Guest and Minister of State for Railways Shri Manoj Sinha, was the Guest
of Honour at the function. On this occasion Chairman, Railway Board Shri
A.K. Mital, Member Staff Railway Board Shri Pradeep Kumar and other Board
Members and officials from Northern Railway were among those present. Director
General, RPF Shri Rajiva Ranjan Verma gave the welcome address at the function.
Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhu took the general
salute and inspected the Parade. There was impressive march past by the
RPF Jawans. Minister of Railways and Minister of State for Railways presented
awards to RPF officers / RPF personnel on this occasion. It is quite gratifying
for the RPF, that 07 officers/ RPF personnel were awarded with the prestigious
President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Services, and 59 with Police Medals
for their Meritorious Service. Other awards like Railway Minister’s award for
Best Investigation, Bravery, Community Policing Awareness in Railways, etc.
were also conferred on the deserving RPF/ RPSF personnel. So far 75 PPMs
and 689 IPMs have been awarded to RPF personnel including today’s Investiture
Ceremony.
Investiture Ceremony is an occasion to recognise and
honour the meritorious, distinguished and gallant members of the Force for
their deeds in the service of the Nation and in enhancing the image of the
Force. The giving away of these honours on behalf of the President of India by
Minister of Railways and Minister of State for Railways evokes a sense of pride
and dignitary to the recipients and the Force personnel.
Speaking on the occasion,
Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhu said that the RPF has been given a
special responsibility of security of the railway property and travelling
persons which they are carrying out with full dedication. He pointed out that
RPF personnel are also giving useful contribution to the overall security of
the country. Appreciating the award winners, Shri Suresh Prabhu said that it
shows that they must have worked hard and may not have cared for their lives in
the line of duty. The award winners will inspire other RPF personnel to work
with greater dedication. Referring to the law and order issues, Shri Suresh
Prabhu said that railways are generally regarded as soft target and may fall
victim of nefarious designs of anti-national elements. The Railway
Minister said that RPF has to fully geared up to meet the menace of terrorism
and other anti-national activities to ensure security of the
people. Shri Suresh Prabhu informed that a strategic cell needs to
be set up which will formulate strategies based on threat perception to thwart
any anti-social and untoward activities. We will not let anti-national elements
succeed in their dastardly and nefarious acts.
Emphasizing the significance
of technology, Shri Suresh Prabhu said that security systems in the Railways
are making use of technology and constantly updating the same. He said that use
of CCTV, Scanners, Installation of Helpline numbers are some of the measures
based on technology which Railways have initiated. He said that there would be
no dearth of funds for introducing new technology and new security initiatives.
The Railway Minister emphasized on the need to have a strong training system
for the RPF personnel. He called upon RPF to be more vigilant so that it
emerges as a very strong and tough force so that even the criminals would dread
it.
Shri Suresh Prabhu also said
that there is a need for better coordination with the State Government Railway
Police to ensure effective security as law and order is essentially a State
Subject. He said that both the Central Government and the State Governments
have the common objective of providing best possible security to its own
people. Suresh Prabhu said that he has already written letters to all the Chief
Ministers of different States for working out a more synergized and seamless
security mechanism. He said that the Railways is also giving enough attention
to the women security and some of the Zonal Railways have already developed
local security APP for Mobile Phones for ensuring women security. The Minister
said that Indian Railways soon will come out with a single All-India Women
Security APP so that women everywhere can take advantage of this. Shri Suresh
Prabhu said that the Ministry of Railways is committed to the concept of zero
tolerance towards corruption. Railway Minister pointed out that he has given
directions for organizing intensive drive against the ticketless travelers.
Similarly, he has also given instructions to stop thefts of goods/parcel
etc. By launching such measures we will ensure that Railways do not
suffer revenue loss. Shri Suresh Prabhu said that the Hon’ble Prime Minister
has given lot of emphasis on infrastructure in the country including Railway
Sector and hence we are working with the principle “Rail Badhe, Desh Badhe” and
have initiated major schemes for resource mobilization, increasing passenger
amenities and ensuring safety and security of the travelling public. The
Minister reiterated the commitment of Railway Administration towards the
welfare of the families of the railwaymen including RPF personnel. He
said that RPF would get enough funds for constructing its barracks, purchasing
vehicles and security equipments etc. and the shortage of funds will not come
in the way of implementing these objectives.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri
Manoj Sinha said that the RPF should remain vigilant and geared up to meet any
kind of security challenges like terrorism and any other anti-national
activities. He said it is important to ensure security of women. Referring to
Railways security helpline, Shri Manoj Sinha said that this helpline has really
helped railway passenger in a big way and the Railway administration is
resolving complaints satisfactorily. He said that we should popularize the
security helpline number so that more and more persons can take advantage of
this. He also called upon RPF personnel to concentrate on physical fitness also.
DG, RPF Shri Rajiva Ranjan
Verma in his welcome address presented the report of the activities undertaken
by the RPF. He outlined the various achievements of RPF.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Railway Protection Force
(RPF) has come a long way from the Watch & Ward era of 1882 to the present
day wherein it is now entrusted with not only protection of Railway Property
but also providing security to railway passengers, passenger area of theIndian
Railways. The 75,882 strong Force working under the Ministry
of Railways works tirelessly to serve 2.5 million passengers travelling daily
apart from guarding huge Railway assets spread across the country. The award of
the President’s Colour to the RPF in 2006 is an indication of the growing
stature of the Railway Protection Force.
Having been vested with powers
of investigation under the RP(UP) Act & Railways Act, the Railway
Protection Force arrests & prosecutes offenders committing crime over the
Railways. The Force faces diverse security challenges such as crime against
railway property and passengers, extremist violence against railways,
obstruction to train movement/ Rail Rokos due to political agitations, flash
protests by daily commuters, rescue of runaway, lost and trafficked children,
ticketless drives, drugging, narcotics, smuggling of contraband material and
FICN, etc. A good number of unauthorized vendors, touts, males in ladies
compartment, offenders at level crossing, offenders indulging in unauthorized
chain pulling, carriers of dangerous goods, etc. are prosecuted in the best
interest of the travelling passengers.
CCTV surveillance cameras have been installed at major
stations under Integrated Security System (ISS). Besides, Baggage
Scanners, Door Frame Metal Detectors, Hand Held Metal Detectors & Bomb
Detection equipment items have alsobeen installed/ procured under ISS. The RPF
Security Management System (RSMS) (developed by CRIS) has started functioning
in 2013 for communication with Zonal Railways through ‘Railnet’ for taking
prompt action on real time basis and to reduce the paper work. The
increasing use of technology by RPF to ensure safety and security of rail
passengers is evident in the launching of Security Apps on mobile phones of
rail passengers, especially women, for alerting RPF has been initiated in
Central Railway (M-Indicator), South Central Railway (RISSTA) and Eastern
Railway (R-Mitra). Efforts are being made to standardize an App on an All India
basis.
An “All India Security Helpline” has been set up in
August 2014 over Zonal Railways by providing a common Helpline No. 182 for
round the clock security related assistance to passengers. Calls related to
offences under the Railways Act, theft of passenger belongings, for medical
assistance, luggage left behind, nuisance mongers in trains / railway premises,
etc. are received and suitable action initiated. A good number of passengers have
thanked the Force in acknowledgement of the good work rendered.
To strengthen
security of women passengers 12 Mahila Vahinis (women RPF companies) have been
sanctioned. All the Ladies Special trains including certain women coaches are
being escorted by RPF Lady Constables.
A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was issued in
collaboration with Ministry of Women & Child Welfare for the care &
protection of children on Railways. The work of RPF in rescue of children from
traffickers was recognized by the Ministry of Home Affairs. On 07.10.2015
during the function on National Conference of Anti Human Trafficking held at
New Delhi, Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh presented Certificate of
Excellence to DG/RPF for commendable contribution of RPF during “Operation
Smile” in the field of Anti Human Trafficking.
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