Delhi govt constitutes Task Force for women's safety in public transport

NEW DELHI: Delhi government's think tank the Dialogue and Development Commission, which advises the Delhi government on key policy issues, has constituted a Task Force for Women Safety in Public Transport in Delhi, to ensure safety and improve quality of commuting for women travellers in public transport in the national Capital.

The Task Force, constituted with the approval of Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, has been entrusted with the task of evaluating and monitoring of various initiatives taken by the Government in the direction of women safety, including installation of CCTV and Panic buttons in buses, and strengthening the Delhi Government's flagship 'Bus Marshal scheme', which has been in place in all government run DTC buses since 2015.

The story was first reported in the Millennium Post on June 13 and while talking to the newspaper, Jasmine Shah the Vice Chairman of the DDC had said, "Public transport system and the women safety have been our main focus. Currently, there are some ongoing schemes like deployment of marshals in DTC buses. This task force will monitor such scheme at the ground thereafter they will ideate the long term plan which would be beneficial for the citizens."

One of the key mandates of this Task Force is to recommend and monitor the implementation of all initiatives undertaken by the Transport Department for women safety. The Task Force will assess and recommend improvements in the effectiveness of bus marshalls programme. "The Task Force will comprise of representatives from all stakeholders of public transport in the capital as well as eminent experts from civil society working in the field of Women's safety and public transport in Delhi. It would also include two daily female commuters nominated by Hon'ble Transport Minister" said Shah.

The members of the Task Force will be appointed for a period of one year, or until the tenure of the present Delhi Government.

Gender sensitisation of drivers, conductors, measures like installation of panic buttons and CCTVs in buses along with other important women safety measures will be part of the mandate of this Task Force. The Task Force will comprise of representatives from the DDC, concerned government departments, DCW, Delhi Police, NGOs and two members from the civil society.