Should public transport be free for women?

Delhi government would soon be making public transport free for women, but do women feel this as a privilege or a favour? With safety of women becoming a major concern, the Delhi government will soon be making the public transport free for women. This initiative certainly brought cheer to women who surely could make use of the facility to travel to work. Is this needed" ask others

The ongoing debate in nation's capital and on social media on the issue of making public transport free for women has spread across the country. If the move will be effective in ensuring safety and enticing more women into work or is it just a gimmick?

When the chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that his government plans to make its state-run bus and metro network free for women in coming months, he said one of the reasons is - "Public transport is considered the safest for women and keeping that in mind, the government had decided that... all buses and the metro will be made free for women,"

Even while many contend its an election gimmick, several women, especially those working closely with economically challenged groups expressed optimism. It is also being viewed as one of the ways for women to reclaim public spaces.

"This is a great idea. Any space that has a larger number of women becomes safer for women," said Shilpa Phadke, co-author of 'Why Loiter', who worked extensively on the risks women face in public spaces and spearheaded a street campaign urging women to reclaim their space.

Speaking to Reuters on the topic she threw light on the economics of public transport from lower economic strata's perspective, "Domestic workers who used public transport earlier either walk now or share a ride in an auto rickshaw... When there is affordable and accessible transport, opportunities expand."

However, amidst the demand for equality, do women need to be treated specially always? ask a few. Why are these privileges given to women? Shining light on this issue and making this more reasonable topic to debate, Womenia has spoken to Hyderabadis about privileges given to women, and asked them if they would like such a resolution to be passed in their city as well.

Anusha Bharadwaj the executive director for 'Voice 4 Girls' shares, "I do think about people, who are saying that we can afford a ticket; it is has become a privileged class conversation. Delhi metro is quite expensive for a daily labourer and so, once the metro becomes free, more women will come to job space because the transportation becomes easy.

It will see more women accessing public transport and if there is really a feeling where you think why women cant pay for the ticket, the government should make it in such a way that if you can afford it you buy the ticket or otherwise travel for free. I do think that this initiative would work and there will be around two to three extra trains available for women instead of one."

For the marginalised section this would be the best facility that government could provide says Naveena, a freelance journalist. "What could be the best initiative for women than this. As metro costs around 40 rupees people who cannot afford it get the best opportunity and I think that this should be implemented in Hyderabad as well, "she adds.

On the other hand, there are women who feel that this facility should be given looking at proper criteria of women. AsodaRuthPankaja a retired principal of nursing medical college, Nizamabad says, "Working women must be given a pass, however giving the free pass to every woman indiscriminately is not right."

Alice Preethika, a nurse who commutes by public transport shares, "Free public transport should be implemented in Hyderabad, it should be treated equally and not categorise women in specific."