To.

Mr. Arvind Kejriwal

Chief Minister, Delhi

Leader, Aam Aadmi Party

4 June 2019:

Just yesterday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced free travel for women on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses, Delhi metro and cluster buses in a bid to ensure women’s safety.

There is no doubt that free tickets for public transportation like buses and Metro will increase the physical presence of women. Ask any woman walking down a dark street or travelling alone in the Metro -- you heave a sigh of relief when you see more women around you.

If Mr. Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are serious about women’s safety, then they shouldn’t stop here. Here are some further measures they can take to ensure women’s safety. Installing GPS tracking for all DTC buses, hiring more women bus conductors and drivers, ensuring there is ample street lighting around DTC bus stops and gender-sensitisation workshops for bus drivers are a few such steps.

The AAP is expected to spend Rs. 700 - 800 crores on subsidising transport for women. This means women’s safety is a top priority for them. They must go all the way and implement measures that will actually ensure safety.

For women in Delhi to feel secure, the government needs to listen to the demands of women themselves. By showing the courage to take strong steps, the AAP government can lead the way for creating meaningful safety for women in the national capital.

With Delhi state elections just a few months away, we have the perfect opportunity to leverage women’s safety as a top priority agenda for the government.

Sources:

Delhi Govt Promises Free Public Transport for Women. How Will That Work? - TheWire

Does free travel in Metro, DTC ensure women’s safety? Social media flooded with questions for Arvind Kejriwal - Financial Express

Women in Delhi put safety over free travel - Business Standard