The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has partnered with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to enhance mobile handset security for railway passengers. It is a proactive approach to safeguarding digital assets of citizens during travel, marking a significant step toward integrated governance and tech-enabled public service delivery.
Key Highlights of the Collaboration
- Objective: To trace, recover, and block lost/stolen mobile phones of passengers travelling in trains.
- Integrated Platforms: Under this collaboration, Sanchar Saathi (Block Your Lost/Stolen Mobile Handset -CEIR) Service of DOT will be integrated with Operations of RPF for Mobile Safety.
- Sanchar Saathi (DoT): Enables citizens to block lost/stolen mobile handsets using the CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Register) system.
- Rail Madad (Indian Railways): It is a grievance redressal mobile app for train passengers, now integrated with Sanchar Saathi for real-time data sharing.
Implementation Details
- Onboarding of RPF Zones/Divisions: 17 Zones and 70+ Divisions of RPF are being onboarded to the Sanchar Saathi portal.
- Complaint Mechanism:
- Passengers can now lodge mobile theft/loss complaints via the Rail Madad App.
- Complaint details are automatically forwarded to the Sanchar Saathi portal.
- The lost handset is then blocked, preventing its misuse.
- Alerts are generated for RPF to track and recover the device.
Significance
- Addresses a Major Concern: Mobile phones are among the most commonly lost/misplaced items on trains and at railway stations.
- Boosts Digital Safety: This integration enhances passenger safety and contributes to digital ecosystem security in public transport.
- Prevention + Recovery: Combines preventive action (blocking of handset) with on-ground efforts (RPF tracking) for comprehensive mobile security.