Congress-ruled Delhi has earned "a most dubious reputation" from the point of view of women’s safety, Union Minister Jairam Ramesh has said while giving suggestions to Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to improve it.
In a letter to Dikshit, the Rural Development Minister has suggested that the women helpline (181) should only have women telephone operators so that te caller can convey her problem without any hesitation.
Student volunteers could also be considered for the post of telephone operators, he said.
"On the helpline, I have been told that in one instance a male telephone operator who took the call was asking woman caller about her marital and living status.
"To ensure, these instances don’t happen and women feel safe and comfortable in registering their complaints, the helpline should have only women telephone operators. Student volunteers could also be considered," Ramesh said.
The Union Minister also suggested "women special buses of a distinct colour, low floor and lit from inside" and trained women drivers for these specials for women safety in the city in general.
"Setting up of more pre-paid taxi/auto-rickshaw booths with registered drivers all over Delhi will greatly ensure safety of women," he said.
"These initiatives will address some of the immediate safety concerns for women in the nation’s capital which has earned a most dubious reputation from the point of view of women’s security," he said.