Me - Tro
The easiest way to analyze how women are treated in a public environment, is to survey how they’re treated on public transportation. More often that not, commuting in the National Capital Region of New Delhi can be extremely taxing on women. It is often unsafe and uncomfortable, restricting their timings and locations accessible to the bare minimum. However, in recent years, women’s safety has become a subject undergoing intense scrutiny. Men who believe they have “any right” and “power” over women, are finally being penalized for the crimes they commit, and justice is slowly but surely being served.
Everyday working women feel unsafe taking the metro, getting home, running errands, etc. A March 2014 New Delhi TV (NDTV) opinion survey revealed that 49% women responded to feeling unsafe when questioned about the same and 71% women claimed to feel unsafe in public spaces. In the survey, 52% of women voted for change in men’s attitude, 50% for strict policing and 48% percent voted for stronger laws. With these alarming statistics, women and young girls are forced to stay at home. Access to safe and secure commute is an important step towards women empowerment, and I believe that an efficient public transport system will open up a wide range of opportunities and resources for women who are breadwinners of their families.
Big steps were taken when New Delhi rolled out the Metro system with separate ladies compartments. Secured with hundreds of CCTV cameras, security guards, and several other measures to contribute to women’s safety. However, the levels of security, unfortunately dissipate as they step out of the station. To help address this loophole, I recently started a social initiative-
“ME-TRO”, where I will eventually aim to create a safe route for women to exit the metro station and continue onto further transportation in taxis or rickshaws, with the utmost ease.
