Canines for safety? Not a very good idea
The next time you hail a cab, you may find yourself staring at a German Shepherd. Recent reports suggest that in a bid to address shortage of tourist cabs in the city during the Commonwealth Games, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is implementing one-of-its-kind pilot project under which they will train 100 women (priority given to women from slums) and 100 German Shepherds to accompany them on roads.
The intent is to train women to be taxi drivers and German Shepherds to guard them. But having a dog in the cab — is this a feasible idea?
Taruna Singh, a communication consultant avers, “This a very good initiative taken by the authorities. However, I think what one needs to think about is that every individual is not comfortable with dogs, even if it is for security reasons. Also, tourists might be uncomfortable about the hygiene factor concerning dogs. This is where the need for active customer care service arises. Maybe when the client calls the cab facility, customer service representatives should check with them whether they are comfortable with a dog in the cab, also highlighting the fact that the dogs have been trained especially for security reasons and all medical concerns have been taken into consideration.”
Smriti Malhotra, PR executive, says, “How much would MCD be able to convert into reality is the question.”
Taruna adds, “As for having women drivers, it is a great way of increasing employment opportunities for them, however, gender is not the issue here. It is about making clients feel secure in the cab and reassuring them of the fact that they will reach their destination safely. Many of my friends have told me incidences where cab drivers are drunk while they are on duty. Now that is scary. The best way to deal with such an issue is to do a thorough background check on individuals, who are being trained as drivers. They also need to undergo language training so that they may communicate at least in basic English.”
Delhi University student Madhulika Khanna says, “You can’t launch a pilot project when there are 100 days left for the Commonwealth Games. The idea to have a dog doesn’t seem like a safety measure to me. The MCD has international tourists in mind; imagine how it is going to seem to these visitors to have a dog in their cab? Also having dogs live with these women cabbies is burdening them with responsibility of another member, taking care of his food and other needs. How many of them will be willing? Instead of improving the law and order situation in the city, authorities intend to put it all on the poor dog? Now is he responsible for safety? Is this city going to the dogs?”
Class 10 student Vasundhara Singh Bhati says, “Indian dogs are tougher and are a better option than a German shepherd.”
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