Free DTC rides for women : A taxpayer burden initiative ?
In 2019, Arvind Kejriwal, the former Chief Minister of Delhi, declared that women will travel free of cost in Delhi Metro and DTC buses. This proposal was not received enthusiastically, but following the election victory, the Delhi Cabinet approved this legislation and on 23rd October 2019, on the occasion of Bhai Dooj. DTC received approval, while the Delhi metro was not ensnared by the Delhi government’s strategy to attract votes. Different voices were travelling in the society about this decision. Some men talked about why only women whereas some talked about the cheap tactics of Delhi government to attract votes.
But even after all the protests and concerns, it was rolled out and till date many women are travelling with their pink tickets in the buses. According to the government estimates, women have availed over 1.75 billion rides in its 7600 buses. What was started as a step towards Gender-Just public transport, has turned into a nightmare for Delhi’s most beloved public transport.
Regrettably, by introducing free bus rides for women, the revenue that would have been earned from these female passengers is turning into a losing deal for the Delhi government. This leads to a decrease in DTC’s total revenue. This reduced revenue compels the government to raise a strict budget allocation for the DTC. This puts pressure on financial resources, particularly regarding women’s free passes, which is a notable subsidy that is certainly planning to stay for a longer period of time. To support the subsidy for complimentary bus rides, expenditure on other areas of the city have been decreased. This impacts investments in sectors such as health, education, and infrastructure. This drastic change is observed by Delhi residents. Before the introduction of this tax harvesting initiative the Delhi government used to discuss Mohalla Clinics, top-tier excellence schools, and now all they talk about is freebies.
This has resulted in an increased demand for public buses, but the scenario is entirely opposite as the government is not in a position to fund more DTC buses. One surprising statistic is that over 50% of DTC drivers and conductors are employed on a contract basis, their pay is inconsistent, and they are not provided with any social benefits either. These drivers receive 6₹ per kilometer. This annoyance frequently results in reckless driving and breaking traffic regulations. One can certainly recognize the necessity of public transportation, but if it comes at the expense of the employee, then it is not justified.
This attitude is unacceptable from a former Chief Minister, who used to be an IRS officer. He has ignored the impact of subsidies on the economy. Power politics has consistently caused politicians to overlook the true purpose of elections. As a former Chief Minister, he should have concentrated on developing robust infrastructure that would yield benefits in the future. Every single rupee of the people of Delhi is being used in a way that does not contribute to any growth for the capital city. The capital’s government should focus on boosting investments in DTC, for instance, by adding more buses, employing drivers on a permanent basis, increasing their salaries, and providing social security to the drivers.
Delhi still remains the most dangerous city for women globally, and providing free rides does not guarantee their safety. A common type of abuse that women experience on DTC buses is sexual harassment, which encompasses groping, inappropriate touching, and molestation. Male passengers often engage in this behavior, and the crowded buses facilitate offenders’ ability to avoid being noticed. Constant gazing and suggestive actions by male travelers frequently constitute harassment, fostering a hostile and uneasy atmosphere for women. Numerous women have expressed feeling unsafe because of this ongoing scrutiny, which turns everyday commuting into a stressful experience.
Instead of providing free bus rides for women, the Delhi government ought to prioritize creating infrastructure that is friendly to women. The government of Delhi can launch buses exclusively for women to establish a more secure environment for female travelers, rather than free pink tickets. Numerous DTC buses are fitted with CCTV cameras to prevent and document harassment cases. There are specific helplines and marshals (both female and male) to offer assistance and guarantee the safety of women travelers. Nonetheless, these services occasionally encounter issues such as lack of personnel or delays in replies. Public campaigns and initiatives focused on increasing awareness about women’s safety play a crucial role in tackling harassment. These initiatives emphasize informing the community, shifting public perceptions, and promoting the reporting of events.
These days women in Delhi are getting calls where we hear the former Chief Minister’s voice where he introduces himself as “Delhi ka Beta” and how his government is planning to give women fifteen hundred rupees, and increase it to twenty-one hundred rupees a month. Delhi’s policy for providing everything for free is taking a heavy toll on the tax paying people. This money could have been used for better education or better cleanliness, but unfortunately Delhi government is putting all its money on free rides in DTC and still the idea of women safety is not achieved. If the Aam Aadmi Party needs to stay in Delhi for a longer period of time, they need to focus on more important things such as education, health, cleanliness, and definitely clean air (and not regard pollution as a seasonal crisis, but a yearly one).
