In a creative move to enhance rail safety awareness, the Indian Railways Ministry has incorporated a popular meme, “Baithne ka tarika thoda casual hai” (Sitting style is a bit casual), to caution passengers against sitting at train doors. The meme, which gained notoriety during a viral video of an IAS interviewer’s remark, has now been repurposed by the Railways Ministry to encourage responsible rail travel.
The Railways Ministry, known for its engaging social media presence, posted the meme on X with the caption, ”Be a #ResponsibleRailYatri and do not travel while sitting at the door.” The accompanying image features two passengers seated at the train door, emphasizing the casual approach to sitting in a humorous manner.
Be a #ResponsibleRailYatri and do not travel while sitting at the door. pic.twitter.com/XCsqwSUs5I
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) January 3, 2024
While some passengers found amusement in the meme, others took the opportunity to voice their concerns and suggestions. One user urged the Railways to focus on introducing more trains and seats, ensuring timely services, and efficiently managing seat availability.
Another user suggested implementing a safety feature where doors automatically lock once the train reaches a certain speed. A third user expressed concern about passengers sitting at the door, suggesting deploying undercover officers in unreserved and non-AC compartments to understand the challenges faced by passengers.
This initiative is part of the Railways Ministry’s strategy to leverage trending memes and viral content to convey important safety messages. In the past, the ministry has successfully used such approaches to engage with a broader audience and promote responsible rail travel.
In November of the previous year, the ministry shared images of the Vande Bharat Express from Kerala, using the viral dialogue “So beautiful, so elegant” to describe the trains. By embracing popular trends, the Railways Ministry continues to blend creativity with safety advocacy in its communication strategy.