Activities

Railway Safety Volunteers and Community Coordinators Programme

Educating Communities • Encouraging Responsible Behaviour • Reporting Risks • Protecting Lives

The Railway Safety Volunteers and Community Coordinators Programme is a proposed public-awareness, community-engagement and safety-education initiative of the All India Rail Safety Council (AIRSC). The Programme seeks to develop a responsible network of trained volunteers and coordinators who can communicate verified safety information, support educational outreach and encourage disciplined behaviour among passengers and communities living near railway and metro environments.

The Programme is founded on the principle that informed communities can make an important contribution to accident prevention. Railway authorities and trained professionals remain responsible for railway operations, enforcement and emergency management; however, members of the public can support safety by following instructions, discouraging dangerous behaviour, sharing reliable information and reporting hazards through authorised channels. The initiative will help volunteers understand these responsibilities and the strict limits of their role.

Railway Safety Volunteers may assist with awareness campaigns, school programmes, community meetings, exhibitions, workshops and distribution of approved educational materials. Community Coordinators may help plan local activities, maintain communication with participating institutions, document programme outcomes and ensure that volunteers follow AIRSC guidelines, applicable laws and instructions issued by competent authorities.

The volunteers and coordinators will serve as safety educators and community facilitators—not as railway officials, security personnel, technical inspectors or emergency responders. Participation in the Programme will not grant authority to enter railway tracks, yards, cabins, depots, control rooms or other restricted locations. Volunteers must not direct railway operations, inspect technical equipment, control crowds independently or represent themselves as employees or authorised representatives of Indian Railways or any metro organisation.

Training will be an essential requirement before volunteers participate in public activities. Orientation may cover railway and metro safety, track-trespassing prevention, level-crossing awareness, station and platform discipline, passenger behaviour, fire and electrical safety, emergency communication, safeguarding, first-aid awareness and ethical public engagement. Operational or technical instruction should be delivered only by appropriately qualified professionals.

Volunteers will be taught how to communicate safety messages clearly, respectfully and without creating fear. They should use verified information, avoid exaggerated claims and distinguish general education from official instructions. When uncertainty arises, volunteers must refer people to authorised railway, metro, police, medical or emergency services rather than offering unsupported advice.

A major area of outreach will be railway-track trespassing prevention. Volunteers may educate communities about the dangers of walking, sitting, playing or taking photographs on railway tracks. They may promote the use of authorised foot overbridges, subways and designated crossings and explain why trains may approach faster or more quietly than expected. Volunteers must never enter the track area to conduct an activity or attempt a rescue without appropriate authority and professional support.

Level-crossing education will promote the message “Stop • Look • Listen • Cross Only When Permitted.” Community activities may explain the importance of obeying gates, barriers, warning lights, bells and instructions from authorised personnel. Pedestrians, cyclists and drivers must never pass around or beneath a closed barrier, and vehicles should not enter a crossing unless sufficient space is available to clear the tracks completely.

Station and passenger-safety outreach may address platform-edge risks, safe use of foot overbridges, orderly boarding and alighting, crowd discipline and responsible use of escalators and lifts. Passengers will be encouraged to remain behind safety lines, allow others to exit before boarding and avoid pushing, rushing or obstructing doors. Boarding or leaving a moving train, footboard travel and entry into restricted areas must be firmly discouraged.

Community Coordinators may identify local awareness needs through safe observation, consultation and publicly available information. They may work with schools, resident groups and participating organisations to plan suitable programmes. They should not undertake technical inspections, enter railway property without permission or publish allegations about infrastructure or personnel without verification.

Responsible hazard reporting will be a central component of the Programme. Volunteers who observe damaged barriers, smoke, fire, suspicious objects, unsafe access or dangerous public behaviour should maintain a safe distance and inform the appropriate authority through an official reporting channel. They should record only essential information and must not interfere with equipment, confront individuals aggressively or place themselves in danger.

During emergencies, volunteers should immediately contact the competent emergency service, follow authorised instructions and avoid obstructing professional responders. Only volunteers with valid, recognised training should provide first aid, and then only within the scope of their competence and when the situation is safe. They must not undertake trackside rescue, electrical intervention, firefighting or other hazardous actions requiring specialist training and protective equipment.

Child safeguarding will be a mandatory principle of all school and youth activities. Programmes involving children should be conducted with institutional approval, responsible adult supervision and appropriate consent. Volunteers must follow clear codes of conduct, avoid unsupervised one-to-one interaction and never collect or publish a child’s personal information or photograph without proper authorisation.

Children may be engaged through RailVidya—National Children’s Integrated Safety Education Programme. Volunteers can support age-appropriate activities such as safety talks, quizzes, poster exhibitions, demonstrations and RailVidya Safety Clubs. The purpose will be to help children recognise hazards, follow authorised instructions, remain with guardians and seek help from trusted adults or clearly identified officials.

Special attention will be given to the safety and dignity of women, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and other passengers who may require assistance. Volunteers should ask before helping, respect personal boundaries and avoid physical assistance for which they are not trained. Accessible communication and respectful behaviour will remain essential throughout the Programme.

Digital conduct will be governed by strict standards. Volunteers must not share accident photographs, personal details, distressing content, operational information or unverified reports on social media. Official logos, uniforms, identity cards and photographs of railway facilities should be used only with permission. Programme identification must not resemble government, railway, police or security credentials or create a misleading impression of statutory authority.

Selection may include an application, identity verification, references, suitability assessment and acceptance of a formal code of conduct. Roles involving children, vulnerable persons, sensitive information or access to institutions may require additional safeguarding checks. Selection should be transparent, non-discriminatory and based on integrity, communication ability, willingness to learn and commitment to public safety.

Volunteers may be organised into suitable categories such as Community Safety Volunteer, Student Safety Volunteer, RailVidya Education Volunteer, Digital Awareness Volunteer, First-Aid Awareness Volunteer and Community Safety Coordinator. Each category should have a clearly defined scope, training requirement, reporting structure and level of supervision. Titles must not suggest operational authority.

A code of ethics will require volunteers to act with honesty, neutrality, courtesy and respect for human dignity. They must not misuse their role for employment promises, political activity, fundraising, commercial promotion or personal influence. Any fees, donations, partnerships or sponsorships connected with programme activities should follow transparent AIRSC policies and applicable legal requirements.

Capacity-building may include induction training, refresher sessions, scenario-based learning and assessments. Topics may cover public communication, conflict avoidance, emergency referral, disability awareness, data protection, safeguarding and accurate record-keeping. Volunteers should participate only in activities for which they have received suitable preparation and supervision.

Programme activities may include awareness walks, community meetings, school sessions, exhibitions, passenger-education campaigns, safety pledges and multilingual digital outreach. Events proposed on railway or metro premises must proceed only after obtaining permission from the competent authority. Safety arrangements, volunteer deployment and communication materials should be reviewed before each activity.

Community participation will be encouraged without placing enforcement responsibilities upon citizens. Volunteers should seek cooperation through education and positive example. If a person refuses advice or behaves dangerously, the volunteer should avoid confrontation and refer the matter to authorised personnel where necessary.

Monitoring and accountability will be supported through attendance records, activity reports, participant feedback, safeguarding procedures and periodic performance reviews. Complaints concerning misconduct should be examined through a transparent process. AIRSC should retain the right to suspend or discontinue participation when a volunteer violates safety requirements, ethical standards or programme boundaries.

The impact of the Programme may be assessed through communities reached, educational institutions engaged, volunteers trained, awareness materials distributed and improvements in safety knowledge. Recognition may be provided for verified service, consistent participation and exceptional community contribution. Such recognition should acknowledge voluntary educational service and must not imply railway appointment, employment or statutory authority.

The Railway Safety Volunteers and Community Coordinators Programme seeks to build a disciplined and trustworthy network capable of carrying essential safety messages into schools, families and communities. Its success will depend not on the number of volunteers enrolled, but on the quality of their training, integrity of their conduct and positive influence on public behaviour.

The All India Rail Safety Council, as an independent non-profit platform dedicated to rail-safety education, awareness, training and research, invites responsible citizens, educators, students, retired professionals and community organisations to support this proposed initiative. AIRSC activities are independent and do not confer employment, enforcement powers or official railway status. Where necessary, outreach will be undertaken with the permission and coordination of the appropriate authorities.

“A responsible volunteer does not take unnecessary risks—he or she shares knowledge, reports danger and guides the community towards safer choices.”

Learn Responsibly • Serve Honestly • Guide Safely • Report Correctly • Protect Every Life