Last Updated: 24 Nov 2024

Mission Parivartan: An initiative to train women to obtain their Heavy Motor Vehicle (HMV) licences
-- Breaking barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields

Target 2025: Delhi public bus fleet will have 8,000 electric buses, with at least 20% driven by women^[1]

IMPACT

-- 89 Women drivers already driving Delhi Govt buses as of Nov 2024^[2]
-- 123 women were already trained till Jan 2023^[3]
-- Some women drivers trained at DTC are now employeed at IKEA Pune driving 50 ft long trucks ^[4]

World's 1st all-WOMEN bus depot in Delhi^[5]

-- Named Sakhi Depot, employs 223 women (including 89 drivers); inaugurated on 16 Nov 2024

“None of the women drivers have met with an accident so far, nor have they been involved in any act of indiscipline or rash driving”^[1:1]

"Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater"

More safety for women on board, financial independence for women were the primary objectives invisioned - Delhi Transport Minister, Kailash Gahlot

¶ Women only Depot^[5:1]

• Named 'Sakhi Depot' in Sarojini Nagar, Delhi
• Entirely female workforce, including drivers, conductors, and other staff
• Sakhi Depot employs 223 women, comprising 89 drivers and 134 conductors
• Operating a fleet of 70 buses, including 40 air-conditioned and 30 non-air-conditioned buses
• Serves 17 routes across Delhi
• It is part of a broader vision to create a more inclusive and gender-equal work environment
• The significance of the depot as a symbol of breaking barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields

¶ Mission Parivartan Highlights^[3:1]

• Relaxed the norms and eligibility criteria to recruit women as drivers
  • Reduced minimum height criteria from 159 cm to 153 cm
  • Reduced experience criteria to one month
• Modified Buses Buses were also modified with features like power steering and adjustable seats to facilitate female drivers^[6]
• Free Training:50% of the training (nearly Rs 4,800) for each woman is being borne by the Transport Department, government invited fleet owners and aggregators to sponsor the remaining 50 percent
• 4 months of training, includes training on driving test tracks as well as in the classroom^[1:2]

¶ Scheme Feedback and impact

I always loved driving. Thanks to an initiative by the Delhi city transport corporation. More women will soon join the profession. - Yogita Puri, a bus driver ^[7]

I feel more confident and safe when travelling in this bus. - A women passenger onboard on the DTC bus ^[7:1]

Initiative helps women empowerment and making them financially independent. - Transport minister Kailash Gehlot ^[7:2]

I feel proud of myself that I am known as the ‘first-ever female bus driver’, some days, I feel disheartened that why more women are not coming forward? My passengers like my driving skills, and I am often praised by them. They wait to ride on my bus. - Saritha, DTC bus driver ^[8]

¶ International coverage

Watch coverage, DTC bus drivers and passenger reactions at Australian new Coverage

REFERENCES:

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1. https://epaper.hindustantimes.com/Home/ShareArticle?OrgId=13684825709&imageview=0 ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

2. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/breaking-stereotypes-women-bus-drivers-in-delhi-s-public-transport-fleet-set-to-increase-to-over-60-101686594227654.html ↩︎

3. https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2023/jan/14/mission-parivartan-delhi-govt-inducts-13-more-women-drivers-in-dtc-fleet-2537828.html ↩︎ ↩︎

4. https://www.livemint.com/news/india/women-drivers-steering-public-transport-in-big-cities-11683277343585.html ↩︎

5. https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/delhi-govt-inaugurates-1st-all-women-sakhi-bus-depot-in-sarojini-nagar-124111600818_1.html ↩︎ ↩︎

6. https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/delhi-govt-inaugurates-1st-all-women-sakhi-bus-depot-in-sarojini-nagar-124111600818_1.html ↩︎

7. https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/women-bus-drivers-in-delhi/video/789d046d60108847f6c46f5121a82645 ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

8. https://yourstory.com/herstory/2022/04/delhi-transport-corporation-dtc-first-ever-female-bus-driver-v-saritha ↩︎