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The company believes that this will combat rape and make their transport more user-friendly for females. Even Saritha proactively says that she will ensure that her female passengers feel safe during her career.
That sounds very progressive, and I am optimistic. But, it may be just half the battle won.
Even though this is a good move, I am concerned about the motives behind it:
One of the DTC officials said that a female driver will give a "non-violent face" to the company’s brand. So, what are the company’s priorities here: is it women’s safety or merely following the trend in order to keep their business going?
I am not standing in the way of anyone's hustle, though. Business men and women have their right to bread and butter.
Secondly, has the prevalence of female run - and driven transport improved women’s safety and caused a decline in rape?
According to The UK Express Tribune, a female run taxi business called SheTaxi has been launched to improve women’s safety in public transport.
This business is so successful that it has spread across cities like Delhi and Kerala. Women own the cars they drive and they are taught self-defence.
Whether or not this strategy has caused a decline in rape might be too soon to say, but female travellers definitely feel safer using public transport because they have this option.
Drivers are also trained to deal with sexist comments coming from men who underestimate their driving capabilities. Can you believe that?
It seems that the Indian transport industry is now more focused on empowering women by giving them the opportunity to work in the male-dominated public transport industry.
Yet, the lack of female drivers in public transport is not only an Indian issue. It is a universal normality that affects our country too. I don’t know of a female taxi or cab driver.
Nine times out of 10, I will be chauffeured by a male driver when taking public transport. I have only seen a few female drivers in shuttles and busses, funded by private companies.
Although we are unsure how prevalent gang rape – and public transport rape is in SA compared to India - the issue of gender-based violence and women’s safety still exists.
In response to that, women’s rights supporters have been pushing for teaching males not to rape rather than teaching females not to be raped - and vice versa.
Measures such as female self-defence and female-run transportation in India are an impactful solution; however, they do not seem to erase the sexism that affects India’s reputation and her daughters.
This is just the beginning, but it’s a great step in the right direction. The emphasis needs to be placed on transforming the way some men treat and see women in India, and the rest of the world.
