How do you travel to work? There are multiple ways to do so. In the US, there’s even an Uber helicopter service to get you around.
But, is there a silent barrier hindering India’s women? It’s said that less than 25% of India’s workforce has women and their contribution to the GDP is less than 20%. So, why could this be happening?
According to the World Economic Forum, this could be due to access to affordable transportation. One report outlines that 45% of women walk to work in India, compared to close to 30% of men, which could restrict access to jobs located far away, limiting job choices. So, is it time for buses to step up and save the day? Could initiatives like offering travel at minimal costs help? How viable is a rupee per kilometre for buses? But, could that mean more overcrowding?
How could the current challenges plaguing existing public transport infrastructure be solved? There’s a good chunk of women in India who have to balance household responsibilities and professional aspirations. If there’s a burden of domestic work falling on them, could buses help with their travel to far places and solve the issue? Or is the solution more job opportunities in the vicinity of the woman?
If buses are deemed unreliable, does this mean women should use apps that track buses live? And what about the transport sector? There’s said to be less than 5% of commercial driving licenses held by women. So, is it time to step up that representation? Could there be skill development programmes for women in the transportation sector?
And women in public transport may even face safety concerns, like harassment and violence in public spaces. But is it just travel that hinders women in the workplace?
There may be broader socio-cultural factors at play. If the bus is the solution, could there be community-based buses to transport women to work? That could solve some concerns.
But, beyond that, in a post-pandemic world, could there be more flexible work arrangements, so even if the office is far away, work could be done? That may not always be possible, but it could help deal with the issue. And Zoom or Google Meet could be done via a phone as well.
Could a bus be the BEST solution to the problem? What do you think?
