Transport department denied permits to 52 female drivers, says they need one year experience driving public transport
The transport department has denied 52 female drivers permission to drive school buses on the grounds that they do not have sufficient experience in driving public transport. The School Bus Owners Association (SBOA) trained the female drivers after receiving complaints against male drivers alleging that they were reckless and irresponsible thus putting the safety of children who they ferried at stake. The transport department has said that the drivers will be given permits to drive school buses after they have logged a year’s experience of driving any other public transport.
“The existing policy for school bus safety stipulates that the driver should have at least a years experience driving public transport. But as the newly trained female drivers have no such experience, they have been refused permits and badges,” said Gautam Chatterji, secretary, transport and ports, adding that the female drivers could drive rickshaws for a year for the experience after which they would be given the badges.
Speaking about the issue, Anil Garg, president of the association said that the transport department’s decision to not give its nod would be a roadblock to the plan as female drivers could lose interest and abandon the idea of driving school buses. “We selected the drivers based on their convenience so that they can balance both home and job simultaneously. However if they have to get a year’s experience it would become difficult for them to manage and even lead to some of them opting out. We are hoping for some alternative solution that will ensure that the drivers become eligible as per the guidelines and then take up the job as school bus drivers. We are contemplating on sending them with the male drivers so that they can get hands-on experience,” said Mr Garg.
This initiative was take following some complaints that male drivers were reckless and behaved irresponsibly.. “It is assumed and a known fact that female drivers are more responsible and dedicated to their job. They are also expected to be more concerned about student safety, hence we invited applications from interested female applicants on the condition that they would be provided driving jobs close to their place of residence,” said Mr Garg, adding that SBOA received around 100 applications from all over Mumbai of which 52 were shortlisted.
“The female drivers will not have to compromise on their family life and will be able to take care of their home chores in the time between their rounds to pick up and drop students from their homes to schools and back home. They have also been shortlisted based on their proximity to the schools,” said Garg. The SBOA trained the shortlisted candidates and after they completed the training, they were deemed fit for driving school buses.
