Odd-Even 2.0: Delhi to decide today if women drivers will be exempted

The Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government may exempt women drivers from the second phase of odd-even scheme scheduled to start from 15 April.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called a Cabinet meeting with coordination committee constituted today and a final decision is likely to be taken, a report said.

Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Swati Maliwal has also urged Transport Minister Gopal Rai to exempt women from the road-rationing scheme as the city's public transport is not in a good shape and safety for working women is also a issue of concern.

Rai held consultation with different women organisations where most participants raised their voices in favour of keeping women drivers out of the ambit of the scheme.

"Government is considering to give exemption to women drivers under the second round of the scheme. There is a need to improve public transport besides ensuring safety for women. Until government addresses these two issues, women will continue to be exempted," a source said.

During the first phase of Odd-Even scheme from 1 to 15 January earlier this year, women had been exempted from the scheme. In the consultation on Odd-eEven, a participant named Deepika Dutta said women's safety is not up to the mark in the national capital. "Government should first ensure women safety and improve public transport in Delhi. Until government addresses these two issues, it should exempt women drivers from the odd-even scheme," she said.

Maliwal, who was also a participant, said that DCW had sought people's suggestion on whether women should be given exemption. "Out of 218 participants, 200 women wanted exemption for them. Cases of rape and eve-teasing have also been on the rise. There is first need to make women feel safe while travelling in public transport," Maliwal said.

Another participant Parminder Kaur Malhotra said during the first round of scheme, schools were closed, but this time, schools will remain open during the second round. She said women will also have to pick up their children from schools and in view of this, there should be exemption for them.

Delhi Assembly's Deputy Speaker Bandana Kumari and AAP women MLA Alka Lamba also advocated giving exemption to women drivers in view of poor public transport and women safety issue.

Archana Garodia Gupta, President of FICCI Ladies Organisation, said that she is also in the favour of exemption for women.

There were some women who demanded that government should not exempt women drivers during the second phase of car-rationing scheme. Tina, a resident of Dwarka, said that women should help government deal with the rising pollution level in the city.

Under the scheme, odd-numbered cars are only allowed to ply on odd dates while even-numbered vehicle are allowed to run only on even dates.

- With inputs from PTI