Indian Railways launch ‘SHINE’ to empower women at workplace

The Indian Railways has launched a customised app for women employees to lodge complaints about sexual harassment at the workplace. 

Sexual Harassment Incident Notification for Empowerment (SHINE) was made operational on the occasion of the International Women’s Day on Sunday (March 8, 2026).

This facility would be in addition to the existing internal complaints committee formed in every organisation in compliance with the Visakha guidelines of the Supreme Court in 1997 and Government of India instructions to protect women at workplace issued from time to time. With SHINE, women employees can lodge complaints through the Human Resources Management System (HRMS). 

SHINE for visitors too 

According to railway sources, SHINE also allows reporting incidents or complaints on behalf of outsiders (visitors), contractual staff, students and others who may not have access to the app. 

It would maintain confidentiality and address issues brought to the notice of the authorities concerned effectively. The app could be accessed through the ‘Employee Self Service’ system.

Going by the existing guidelines, committees had been constituted at various levels to address complaints of sexual harassment faced by women employees. 

SHINE had been developed to make the mechanism more confidential and to be addressed in an expeditious manner. 

“This feature is accessible to all female employees, and they can record their complaint directly and it will be received by the concerned committee nominated to deal with such complaints online,” a note sent to all Zonal General Managers said.