Question

How would the introduction of lady taxi drivers improve the public transport system?(25-50 words)?

Answer 1

In recent years, it has been found that women are coming forward to work in urban public transport, a sector which was earlier considered as a purely male dominated sector. With increasing rapes, molestation and eve teasing, it is better to have more women drivers. After the infamous incident of an Uber taxi driver raping a female passenger or the Nirbhaya gang rape case, there is more need for female drivers in India. More and more women are travelling late-nights because of night shifts or late working hours or just staying out with friends and male-driven cabs and other public transports have proved to be unsafe, especially for women who are travelling solo. Taking safety factor of women in mind and also to provide job opportunities to women, some NGOs and transport service providers are opening up avenues for providing training and employment to women drivers in urban public transport.

Brands like SheCabs, Priyadarshini Taxi Service, GCabs, Viira Cabs and Sakha Cab Company have started employing more women to meet the demand of women travelers in Indian cities. Prominent among these is the Sakha cab company, launched in 2008 by Azad Foundation, a Delhi-based NGO. A branch of Sakha Consulting Wings, the company launched its car-hire and chauffeur service with women drivers. In Sakha cabs, men cannot ride unless a female passenger is also present. This was New Delhi’s first such cab service. Sakha runs a 24-hour service and cabs need to be booked at least four hours ahead of time. The company has also opened branches in Jaipur, Indore and Kolkata.