A recent survey conducted by a coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) revealed that four out of every five women who regularly commute by buses in Delhi have experienced instances where buses did not stop for them at designated bus stops. The survey, conducted over four months this year with 500 women participants, also highlighted that more than half of the respondents faced discriminatory and derogatory remarks from bus staff and male passengers. These incidents were often linked to the Delhi government’s free bus scheme, which allows women passengers to travel on state-run buses without charge, and those who opt for free travel are issued a pink single-journey ticket.
In the fiscal year 2021-22, women commuters availed 134 million free trips on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses and 126.9 million free trips on cluster buses.
The Public Transport Forum, a coalition of around 15 NGOs, initiated the survey following an incident in May where a bus driver was suspended by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after a video emerged online showing the driver driving past a group of women commuters waiting at a bus stop.
The report, titled ‘Halt for women bus users in Delhi,’ highlights that despite an increase in the number of women commuters since the introduction of the free bus scheme, women still face discrimination while traveling on buses. Among the respondents, 29% faced such instances “frequently,” while another 50.2% experienced them occasionally.
The report recommends various solutions to address the problem, including inducting more women bus drivers and conductors, supported by 84.8% of surveyed women. Additionally, 91.6% of the surveyed women expressed their support for the implementation of dedicated women-only buses across Delhi.
The Delhi government responded to the survey results, emphasizing its commitment to women’s well-being and empowerment. It mentioned the provision of free pink tickets and efforts to increase women’s participation in the transportation sector’s workforce. The government also pledged to take corrective measures promptly to address the reported discrimination issues.
The report suggests measures to enhance the safety and efficiency of women bus users’ experiences, including setting up a monitoring system to ensure buses halt for women passengers, a dedicated complaints redressal system, installation of panic buttons, improved lighting around bus stops, and the introduction of women-only mini-buses, among other recommendations.
