Amid demands for women-only transport facilities in the national Capital following the heinous gang rape in a moving bus on December 16, young women in Delhi have started exploring new career opportunities in the transport sector.
Many girls, aged between 18 and 25, are now taking training for driving different types of vehicles and also conducting in buses at the Institute of Driving and Traffic Research (IDTR) centres in Wazirabad and Sarai Kale Khan. IDTR is run by Maruti Suzuki.
Most of them have decided to become professional drivers and conductors in different areas of public transportation.
"The city has become extremely unsafe for women and there is a strong demand for ladies only transport system in the city. The government also seems to be keen to popularise the concept and I want to be a part of it," Anu Rani of Daulatpur in Rohini, a BA 1st year student, said after completing her day's conductor training at Wazirabad.
Jyoti (does not use surname) of Trilokpuri, who studies at the Women's Technical Institute and is undergoing training in driving in IDTR said, "I want to be a part of the proposed all-women transport system in Delhi. I want to take up driving as a profession. This is the need of the hour."
{{/usCountry}}Jyoti (does not use surname) of Trilokpuri, who studies at the Women's Technical Institute and is undergoing training in driving in IDTR said, "I want to be a part of the proposed all-women transport system in Delhi. I want to take up driving as a profession. This is the need of the hour."
{{/usCountry}}On January 4, the transport department had issued a public notice, offering free driving training of auto-rickshaws to women and people from scheduled cast and tribes at IDTR.
Mahesh Rajoria, general manager, driving training and loyalty programme of IDTR said, "There is an urgent need for women to take up the profession of drivers and conductors and create a robust all ladies public transport system here. We are going to IITs and other institutes to spread the message among women students in different fields."
Following the brutal gang rape, the transport department is planning to introduce auto-rickshaws in the city run by women drivers.