International Women’s Day Celebrations at Pune Railway Division

Pune, 8th March 2025: Today, the Pune Division of Central Railway celebrated International Women’s Day with a series of events dedicated to honoring women employees and passengers while ensuring their safety, empowerment, and well-being.

International Women’s Day Celebrations at Pune Railway Station

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Swati Verma, President, Women’s Social Service Organization (WSSO), Pune Division and Divisional Railway Manager Pune, Rajesh Kumar Verma, led the celebrations at Pune Railway Station along with Senior Divisional Security Commissioner Priyanka Sharma. The events included:

✅ Honoring Women Passengers– Female travelers were greeted and felicitated with flower bouquets.
✅ Cyber Crime Awareness Drive – Pamphlets on cyber fraud and online safety were distributed among women passengers.
✅ Passenger Feedback Initiative – Women travelers were given feedback forms to share their experiences, concerns, and suggestions to help enhance railway safety measures.
✅ Nukkad Natak (Street Play) on Women’s Safety – Pune Division RPF personnel conducted a street play focused on self-defense awareness, educating women about Railway Helpline Number 139 for assistance during their journey.
✅ Three-Day Special RPF Campaign for Women’s Safety – To prevent crimes against women, a special drive was conducted in trains to take action against unauthorized male passengers traveling in ladies’ compartments. Under Section 162 of the Railway Act, 67 male passengers were penalized for violating travel regulations.

As part of “Meri Saheli”, a railway safety initiative, Pune Division reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a secure travel experience for women passengers, with dedicated RPF personnel assisting female travelers throughout their journey.

Inauguration of RPF Women’s Barrack at Pune

As a major step towards women’s welfare and safety, the first-ever RPF Women’s Barrack of Pune Division was inaugurated at Tadiwala Road, Pune, by Swati Verma, President, Women’s Social Service Organization (WSSO), Pune Division. The event was graced by Rajesh Kumar Verma (Divisional Railway Manager, Pune) and Priyanka Sharma (Senior Divisional Security Commissioner, Pune).

These newly constructed barracks are extremely useful for rest to the women RPF staff working in Pune suburban area, women personnel posted in other places of the division like Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli, Daund, Ahmednagar (Ahilyanagar) who come to Pune for official work and women personnel working in Mumbai division and Solapur division who come to Pune for train escorting duty.

On this occasion, Divisional Railway Manager Pune congratulated all RPF women personnel, emphasizing the importance of secure and comfortable accommodation for women railway staff. This first-ever women’s barrack of Pune Division was constructed as part of the International Women’s Day celebrations, reflecting the railway’s commitment to gender inclusivity and staff welfare.

As the celebrations concluded, women passengers were wished on the occasion of International Women’s Day, with an assurance from the RPF team that they remain committed to providing a safe and secure travel experience for all women.

International Women’s Day Celebration by Loco Operation Department, Pune Division

The Loco Operation Department of Pune Division, Central Railway, also celebrated International Women’s Day under the leadership of Swati Verma (President, WSSO Pune Division) and Rajesh Kumar Verma (DRM Pune), with valuable support from Vijaysinh Dadas (Sr. DME) and Dadas.

The event was aimed to recognize and honor the invaluable contributions of women working in the running staff of Pune Division. A total of 24 women participated in the function, where they were honored with certificates in appreciation of their dedication and commitment to ensuring the safe operation of trains. The event concluded with a celebratory lunch.

Currently, the Pune Division employs 25 women in the running staff, distributed across depots in Pune, Daund, and Miraj. These women have collectively achieved a remarkable milestone of completing 1.5 million kilometers of running duty, showcasing exceptional safety and efficiency with zero unusual incidents.

Rajesh Kumar Verma (DRM Pune) and Vijaysinh Dadas (Sr. DME) also conducted a thorough inspection of the Pune Lobby, where they interacted with CMS Ladies staff and female running staff. Their discussions provided valuable insights into the challenges faced by women in their roles. The leadership assured full support in addressing their concerns, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to a safe and conducive working environment.

Additionally, an inspection of the running room was carried out by the officials, followed by an interactive lunch session where attendees could share their experiences and suggestions. The administration acknowledged and saluted the hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment of these women in railway operations.

International Women’s Day Celebration at Ghorpadi Coaching Depot

At Ghorpadi Coaching Depot, the celebrations included a Rangoli competition and a Musical Chair event for women employees. The winners were awarded gifts, making the event a fun and memorable experience.

The Pune Division, Central Railway remains committed to recognizing and empowering its women workforce across all departments, ensuring their welfare, security, and professional growth.