The Delhi government has ventured with automaker Ashok Leyland to induct women in the cluster and DTD buses. The aim of establishing women was to promote women’s safety in public transport. The women who joined the services went through a comprehensive training program. Under this training, they were also taught to repair a bus if it broke down.
Under the Mission Parivartan, the Delhi government aims to provide employment opportunities to women drivers in the national capital. Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot announced this. While recruiting women in public services, the focus was to make it safer and passenger friendly.
Women working in Public Transport
Women use public transport more than men for household and family-related reasons. However, public transportation is seen as more male-dominated and is structured according to their needs. It is seen that there is less number of women workers in public transport. Also, employment opportunities are unequal between men and women. There is the existence of gender-based occupational segregation.
Issues of women workers
- Women workers are employed in less senior, precarious, and lower-paid jobs.
- Inappropriate working environment, arrangements, and conditions.
- There is a lack of security measures and sanitation facilities for women workers.
- The work-life balance is poor, which includes long working hours and inflexible shift patterns.
- Maternity rights are not provided to women.
- Inequality in wages still exists
- Women face harassment and violence from passengers and colleagues.
- The transport sector and driving field are more male-dominated, and women workers are often not accepted.
- There is a lack of respect for women drivers
- Male passengers while drunk cause heated arguments
- Women face taunts given by their male peers
- Women workers are excluded from decision-making, and they get less representation leading to gender inequality.
- All these issues work as a hurdle for women who want to work in public transport services.
Government’s initiatives for women and girls
The Government of India established the department of women and child development on January 30, 2006. This ministry administers various special laws for the protection of women.
- The department is responsible for recommending schemes funded under the Nirbhaya fund. This fund works for projects for the safety and security of women.
- “Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences” was launched to track and monitor investigations in sexual assault cases.
- To facilitate tracking and investigation of sexual offenders across the country, the “National Database on Sexual Offenders” was launched by the then Ministry of Home Affairs.
- For detecting, identifying, and resolving cyber crimes against women and children, Cyber Crime Forensic labs have been set up in various States.
- The Women’s Safety Division is also formed for women’s safety.
- Various public awareness programs are also launched by the government to spread awareness about women’s safety and security.
