Questions/Answers

It is widely acknowledged that women’s travel patterns are different from men’s, and these differences are characterized by persistent inequalities. Within any given urban setting, women have inferior access to both private and public means of transport while at the same time assuming a higher share of their household’s travel burden and making more trips associated with reproductive and caretaking responsibilities”. “The difficulties faced by women with regard to their mobility are a form of social exclusion which affects all aspects of their lives and in particular hinders their economic output and health” Since the beginning travelling and its related activities had been the forte of male family members. The Women had been piggy back of their male family members. This has always reduced and affected the mobility of women in rural as well urban areas. There have been very numerous cases where women have taken up the driving and travelling activities at their own. In rural the situation had been even worst. Below are the major challenges addressed by the Department 1) Social stigma that only male can drive 2) Scary of driving on road and incomplete compliances for driving 3) Not suitable atmosphere in public transport 4) Unsafe travelling conditions in public transport 5) Non friendly for breast fed child and mother 6) A short supply of public transport infrastructure; 7) Difference in the travel patterns of women and men; 8) High level of harassment of women who use public transport; and 9) Limited understanding of harassment among public transport personnel. 10) Limited economic capacity of women commuters as compared to male commuters There was an urgent need to address above issues so more and more women can be encouraged to move out of home and do what they aspire. There were two ways to encourage women to travel to their desired destination either they use public transport or personal transport.

There was an urgent need to ensure that more and more women can be encouraged to move out of home and do what they aspire. There were two ways to encourage women to travel to their desired destination either they use public transport or personal transport. The Public transport was always looked upon as non friendly and uncomfortable for women travelling alone. Parents/ family would scarifies the ambition of their daughter or female member rather than allowing them to travel in public transport buses due to behavioral, security and other social issues. The Objective was to introduce women friendly transport which could provide them safe, secure journey. The other option was personal transport. In recent time Transport Department has taken up many initiatives to make the system transparent and efficient so the statutory compliances can be achieved in the transport system. The overall society has been benefited from the initiatives. But this growth was not the inclusive since the 50% population which is female was still falling behind in getting the compliances and license to drive or be mobile. The records of Driving License and vehicle registration were heavily tilted towards male counterparts.

The state govt has laid down a wide and detailed policy guidelines for the strengthening women in state. The focus is on the inclusiveness, gender equality, security, empowerment, overall development, women related policies, programs conceptualization as well execution so they can be brought into the main stream of overall development. State Govt has envisaged to provide education, better health services, availability of healthy and nutritious food for lactating and pregnant women, secure environment, better opportunities for employment, increased participation in decision making at family and society. Transport department is not key department identified for women upliftment policies. At its own department has envisioned the inclusive and gender equality in offering the services to women who were generally not part of transport related activities. The objective is to bring more and more female to use the transport services. Transport is one of the supporting services which enable women to attain better education, health, work opportunity, family well being and taking decision at family and other policy level platforms.

Due to non friendly atmosphere in public transport and transport sectors women sacrifice their ambition to go for higher studies, or employment and have to be complacent with not the best available options. The records of Driving License and vehicle registration were heavily tilted towards male counterparts. The department has worked at two fronts a) Making public transport safer and friendly for women: Several guideline pertaining to women safety were issued which include removal colored films from wind shield, exhibition of women help line numbers prominently, making compulsory to use name plate for drivers and conductors, reserving seat no 11-16 exclusively for women passengers, provision of covered seat for lactating mothers to feed new born in the public transport coaches etc. b) Encouraging to drive at their own to come out of old barriers: All female were exempted from any kind of fee for the issuance of Learning as well Driving license to encourage them to learn and be aware of the road safety norms. These initiative has improved in the delivery of public services in the following manner (1) Public transport vehicle boarding is now safe has seen a increasing trend (2) Long journey inside the public transport vehicle is safe (3) Drivers are more responsible for a safe ride (4) Count of application for Learning and Driving Licenses increased in all districts

The objective is to bring more and more female to use the transport services. Transport is used by female along with family member not independently and hence there was always dependability. They have to depend upon some of family members or friends who can help them to reach their desired destination which is given a second priority. Female also need to move out of house for education, health, employment and recreation activities. Below are the major points which reduced movement 1) Social stigma that only male can drive 2) Scary of driving on road and incomplete compliances for driving 3) Not suitable atmosphere in public transport 4) Unsafe travelling conditions in public transport 5) Non friendly for breast fed child and mother There was an urgent need to address above issues so more and more women can be encouraged to move out of home and do what they aspire. There were two ways to encourage women to travel to their desired destination either they use public transport or personal transport.

The initiative began with an objective to include women who are not able to take up the facilities of Transport department due to several issues. The initiative has affected a large group of women in rural and urban area. The increase in count of issuance of Driving Licenses and Learning License is clear indicator of positive effect. In case of Driving License the count of issuance has gone up to 72019 license in 2016 from 41970 in the 2014. In case of LL also the increased from 52411 in 2014 to 101267 in 2016

Transport Department took path breaking policies decision which were like • Seat reserved from 11-16 in all stage carriage buses • Removal of films glass on windows as per the letter Dt 27 Dec 2012 • Cancellation of licenses of Drivers who has committed offence against female passengers. Use of Uniform, name plate etc for easy recognition of driver and conductor • Cancellation of licenses of Drivers and permit of vehicle • For safety of female passenger exhibition of vehicle registration number as well Police Helpline number • Driver and Conductors details are recorded in computer database to retrieve there information • Cancellation of licenses of Drivers who has committed offence against female based on inputs received from Police department • All passenger as well school bus has to install CCTV camera as well GPS for the safety of women and children • Allotment of seat no 1 behind driver seat to Mother of new born baby to provide feed in the passenger buses. Department has notified the exemption of Learning and Driving License for female applicants through Gazette Notification

Transport Department of Madhya Pradesh envisaged making women friendly policies for the comfort and safety of women travelers. The guidelines were issued in phased manner to make the public transport safer and convenient for women and girl child. Some of the guidelines were as per the Supreme Court directions and some were specific to department. The policies which are formed at local department level are a) Provision for covered seat for lactating mothers b) Installation of GPS and CCTV in the school buses c) Provision for female conductor or companion for girls travelling in school buses d) Exemption of all kind of Learning and Driving License Fee for women

The Initiative has been implemented at very large scale across entire state. The Madhya Pradesh being the second largest state of India the population covered is very vast. All 51 RTO/DTO locations have been involved and updated about the implementation of guidelines. The initiative implementation is a cumulative effort of several stakeholders who are Transport Department of Madhay Pradesh, Public Transport Operators, Schools and Colleges, Passenger/ School Bus Drivers & Conductors etc. All Public/ School Passenger bus owners were directed to comply with the guidelines which involved minimal cost at their end, At department end the fee of all Learning and Driving Licenses were exempted for all women applicants. Since it does not cost directly since the fee was revenue earned by department which was foregone and did not realized.

Yes

The Initiative has been implemented across Madhya Pradesh State which is having the population of around 7.9 Cr. Approx 50% population is female. The execution of initiative has covered entire female population and it was not geographical area specific. The 51 administrative offices of Transport department has implemented women safety measures in all public/ school transport vehicle and exemption of Learning/ Driving fee was offered to every women applicant within the state. By the volume and size itself the initiative has covered a large geography.

The initiative is not a fixed period effort. It has been introduced a policy measures which will continue to be in existence forever. But the benefit of the initiative will be for all coming generation as well current generation. Social Aspect: Safety of women was taken care and special privileges were made to make the gender equality motive of SDG 2030. Criminal background check also allowed the society to be free from anti social elements. Economic Aspect: Free driving License, Safety in the Bus Transport and Infrastructural modification endured more women commuters and job opportunities created were easily accessible to the women Environmental aspect: Strict policy on the department ensured that the vehicles which are unfit should stay out of the road. Infrastructural development of public transport women also ensured the cleanliness of the area.

Sustainability and durability is taken care by the department through different steps taken: : Training is organized on a frequent basis for the bus personal to create awareness and make them aware of the new policies : Surprise audit is conducted by department personal to ensure the implementation of policies : People are being made aware through campaign and other social activities about the policies government has made : Helpline number helps the citizen to keep a check on the wrong mishaps

Yes

The Initiative was monitored based on the data collected from department for Issuance of Learning License as well Driving Licenses. The measurement of policy initiatives for Passenger vehicle guidelines were monitored by enforcement wing of department.

The evaluation of the initiative has been done periodically. The measurable outcome was the increase in issuance of Learning License and Driving License count over the last two years. It has been measured from the departmental database for each district and studied closely. It has been found that women in bigger city have come up more to get the driving licenses when compared to smaller districts. To further increase women participation in the campaign district level special drives for mass enrollment of women were introduced At 40 districts camps were organized and around 11400 new Learning Licenses were issued on the spot. In the year 2014, 2015 the enrollment for Learning Licenses was 52411 and 60333 respectively. This count has increased to 101267 and 92925 respectively for 2016 and 2017. In the same way the count for driving licenses has increased from 41970 and 45451 in 2014 and 2015 respectively to 72019 and 63115 for 2016 and 2017.

The initiative was closely monitored at department level. The Enforcement wing of the department was entrusted to take care of the implementation of new policies in the filed level. Where passenger vehicle were checked for the conformity of policies. If vehicle were found to be non complaint than corrective actions were taken against them by imposing fines or duties and some times cancellation of permits to operate. For the Driving Licenses data has been collected from departmental records to check the increase in licenses issuance.

The initiative has been targeted towards women and they were the primary stakeholders. Other stakeholders were Transport Department, Passenger Vehicle owners, Passenger vehicle driver conductor, Transport enforcement agencies etc. The Transport Department was solely responsible for the implementation of the solution envisaged. A team of high ranked officials were engaged to identify the issue and propose the solution in discussion with other concern departments of the state govt and other stake holders. This initiative was inline with the other initiative of govt to promote gender equality. Directly or indirectly half of the population of state effected since they all are potential users of transport services. The count of women passengers using the public transport could not be ascertained but the count of issued learning License as well Driving License has almost doubled in last two years. Several Non Government Organisations (NGOs) were also engaged to increase awareness of the project and they can also check the outcome in thier respective locality.

Absence of a public culture and domination of public spaces by men heighten women’s sense of insecurity. Insecurity and fear however define how women negotiate public spaces both during the day and night. Use of GPS and other Tracking devices to be made compulsory in all Passenger vehicle not only School/ College bus. Driving rules to be made part of school curriculum so all future citizens become aware of the road safety norms