After holding consultations with women representatives, who pointed out the need to augment the safety parameters in the public transportation system, the Delhi government is likely to give exemption to women drivers under the second round of odd-even scheme starting from April 15.
Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal urged transport minister Gopal Rai to exempt women from the road-rationing scheme as the city’s public transport is not in a good shape and safety for working women is also a issue of concern.
Mr Rai held consultation with different women’s organisations on Tuesday and most participants raised their voices in favour of keeping women drivers out of the ambit of the scheme. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has convened a Cabinet meeting with coordination committee constituted on the odd-even on Wednesday when a final decision will be taken.
“The government is considering to give exemption to women drivers under the second round of the scheme. There is a need to improve public transport besides ensuring safety for women. Until government addres-ses these two issues, women will continue to be exempted,” a source said.
During the first phase of the odd-even scheme from January 1 to 15, the Kejriwal government had also exempted women drivers. In the consultation on the scheme, a participant named Deepika Dutta said women’s safety is not up to the mark in the national capital.
Ms Maliwal, who was also a participant, said that the DCW had sought people’s suggestion on whether women should be given exemption. “Out of 218 participants, 200 women wanted exemption for them. Cases of rape and eve-teasing have also been on the rise. There is first need to make women feel safe while travelling in public transport,” Ms Maliwal said.
