Joy of India’s women-only trains
Saturday, October 10th, 2009
Joy of India’s women-only trains
India recently introduced eight women-only trains in Delhi, Mumbai (Bombay), Calcutta and Madras (Chennai). Aimed at providing safety and comfort for growing numbers of working women, the “Ladies’ Specials” have proved a big hit with their passengers, as the BBC’s Geeta Pandey discovered in Delhi.
I wonder what the “guys only trains” are like? Animal House no doubt.
Richard, “Womens Only” trains have been around since i was born. The Railway Minister, Mamatha Banerjee is a prick. She is just the same old scoundrel as every indian politician is taking credit for things that already has existed for decades. All she did is rename the service, re-paint the trains in new colours and take credit for the initiative as a completely new innovative idea which it so not is. Its her Job to repaint/repair these trains and ensure they are running properly, well at least i can be glad she did that instead of swindling the money into her swizz bank accounts :-P
The statement “The Ladies’ Specials are the brainchild of Railways Minister Mamata Bannerji” only shows how the western media has no clue what happens in india, does zero investigation on a news item and plays along with the government propaganda. Its nice to see this news article on BBC and the benefits and joy such services brings, however it also is a reminder how much of a sex starved, male chauvinistic society india is and how much of a change in attitude is needed if this country needs to go anywhere.
I live in Chennai and here its called “Ladies Only” train. Not just trains, we have bus services as well which are ladies only which are even more popular than the trains. College Girls and Working women are the target of men who abuse them sexually and physically since they are 1. Attractive 2. Have money/valuables that they carry with them.
Another important fact to note is the “Women’s Only” police stations since women arrested have had a history of being raped by the male cops. I’m not sure if i must be happy about such exclusive services for women because they solve a problem with a stop gap solution or if i should be worried such things even need to exist which only shows the state of the society’s mental health.
On a lighter note, “Guys Only” trains are nothing but normal services. No woman would get on these things in an overcrowded situation unless she has no options and yes, they are indeed animal houses :-P The last time i used a public transport was years ago and im not even a woman. :D