Plans are being drawn to make the graveyard shift safer for city’s women employees. Tightening the safety norms, Delhi Police recently issued a new set of guidelines for BPO companies and media houses. It will now be ensured that women working till late are dropped by their office cabs right at their doorstep and the cabs will have to wait till the employee calls out to inform that she is safely inside the house. The order is a directive under Section188 of 1PC and in case of any violations, the employer will be held responsible. He can be imprisoned for a month and have to pay a fine of `100 or more.
Explaining further, Rajan Bhagat, PRO Delhi Police says, “Each firm has to maintain a database of all employees, security personnel, cab drivers. Police should have access to this data. A security guard has to be deployed in each cab carrying women staff. The routes must be chalked out keeping in mind that a woman is not the first one to be picked or the last to be dropped.” Police will also ensure that PCR vans are visible on prominent BPO routes. Employers have also been asked to ensure that GPS system is installed in these cabs.
Although, city’s women employees are happy with this initiative, many think that cab security in offices needs to be further strengthened. Bottlenecks like drivers’ unruly attitude, odd cab timings etc still remain troublesome for many. Says Pooja, a journalist, “I’m really iffy about how successfully will this initiative be implemented. Even after the Dhaula Kuan rape case, the cab services at our firm stay unchanged. The first cab from our office leaves at 11 pm, which is really late. As I stay near Rohini, I’m the last one to be dropped, inspite of the fact that I share the cab with five other male employee. And nobody shows the courtesy to drop me first. If companies can’t follow rules set by Delhi Police, they should atleast have separate cabs for women working late.”
Many often have a hard time dealing with cabbies. “Cab drivers drive rashly and are often drunk. At times they even refuse to drop us at our doorstep. And if you argue, they revert rudely. It was shocking when a 16-year-old, who wasn’t even eligible to drive, was appointed as our cab driver. Even after complaining about him, no action was taken. I feel cab drivers have an integral role in women’s safety. If they learn to behave, half the problem will be solved,” says Shreya, a BPO employee.
Shockingly, in many firms employees working till late are not provided any cab facilities. Says Shristi, an employee with a leading corporate firm, “We have three night shifts in a week. I get my own car as our firm has no provision for cab facility. It’s scary to drive back home alone, but this is the most viable option.”
Seconds Geet Gupta, a media professional with a PR firm, “At times, when we work till late, we have to organise cabs or autos for ourselves. Our office takes no responsibility for our transport. Our employers are hardly bothered about our safety. At times when we hire cabs, drivers don’t even know the routes. So basically as colleagues, we all ensure everyone reaches safely.”
(Some names changed on request)