Final call on exempting woman, Sr citizens today

Tribune News Service 

New Delhi, April 5

The Delhi Government is expected to retain the exemption to woman drivers in the second phase of odd-even scheme beginning from April 15 even as a final call on it will be taken tomorrow during a meeting of the Cabinet and coordination committee convened by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. 

Citing women safety a big concern in using public transport in the national Capital, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal has also urged Transport Minister Gopal Rai to exempt women along with senior citizens from the car-rationing scheme. 

In this regard, the Transport Minister today held consultation with different women organisations and the DCW here wherein most participants favoured exemption for woman drivers and senior citizens. 

“The majority of the participants, including representatives of NGOs, said women should be exempt from the odd-even scheme. All suggestions will be placed before the Chief Minister and tomorrow a final decision will be taken in the Cabinet meeting where members of the coordination committee will also be present,” said a senior official. 

The consultation was held in view of the divided opinion on keeping women outside the purview of the odd-even scheme emerging from a survey done by the city government earlier. 

“An important factor, however, is the issue of women's safety in Delhi. It is therefore important that the safety levels perceived by women be taken into account during the formulation of the scheme of the Delhi Government,” the DCW chief said. 

Maliwal said that DCW had sought suggestions from people on whether women should be given exemption. The Commission within a short span of fewer than 4 days received more than 200 detailed suggestions on the issue.

“Of the total 208 responses received via email, an overwhelming 180 (87 per cent) were in favour of exempting women drivers. Cases of rape and eve-teasing have also been on the rise. The first need is to make women feel safe while travelling in public transport,” she said while adding that most responses were from women though some responses also came from the male family members. 

In a set of recommendations, the DCW Chairperson observed, “While crime against women is increasing in Delhi, the response system, redressal mechanism and the criminal justice system is lacking on many fronts. The perpetrators (of crime) therefore roam fearlessly in the 

city while women are afraid to do so. Such a fear is echoed when women use public infrastructure.” 

It is interesting to note that only 18 responses were against the exemption and out of the same, 13 were from men and 5 were from women. However, not all men wrote against the exemption. 

Further, in order to ensure that women feel comfortable in public transport, Maliwal asked Rai to ensure that informational posters about the DCW's 181 helpline are also put up while assuring quick response in times of distress. 

At the event, Delhi Assembly’s Deputy Speaker Bandana Kumari and AAP MLA Alka Lamba and president of FICCI Ladies Organization Archana Garodia Gupta also backed exemption to woman drivers in view of inadequate public transport and women safety issue.