All day training session conducted for marshals at Thyagraj Stadium
In order to create a safe environment and stop violence, eve-teasing, harassment and molestation of women in the public transports, the Delhi Government is set to deploy 13,000 marshals in the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses and cluster bus services.
An all day training session was also conducted for these marshals on Thyagraj Stadium on Monday, following the implementation of free ride scheme on Tuesday.
According to officials, currently there are 3,000 marshals deployed for the buses only for the night shifts. "Marshals were deployed only in evening shift and there was a demand from commuters to deploy marshals in morning shift also. Accordingly, Delhi Government has recently engaged fresh marshals and they will be deployed in all buses in the morning as well as evening shift for women safety. With the fresh engagement of Marshals, the number of total marshals has crossed 13000," said official.
Addressing the marshals in the training session, the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, said, "The 2 crore people of Delhi are like my family and as the Chief Minister I am like an elder son of this family. I must take care of each member of my family. It is my duty to ensure that each person gets free electricity up to 200 units for 24 hours, to send my elders to 'teerth-yatra', and provide all facilities to them for a comfortable life. However, it has been a matter of concern for me that the women of my family do not feel safe in the city."
As per the officials, under the cluster scheme of the Delhi government, 13000 bus marshals are to be deployed in the DTC and cluster buses to ensure the safety and security of women ahead of the free-travel scheme for women from October 29. The scheme to deploy bus marshals in all the buses was rolled out by the Delhi government this year in June to put a stop to incidents of violence and eve-teasing against women in the national capital.
"As the eldest son of my family, it is also my duty to ensure a safe and secure environment for all the women. It is now your responsibility to ensure that all my mothers, sisters and daughters who travel on the buses are safe and secured. I hope that you will serve this duty with sincerity and determination. The safety of women is the most important for us, and women should feel safe at all times. Because we are a family, we have to ensure a safe place for each other," Kejriwal told the marshals. Currently there are 5500 buses in Delhi and about 3400 bus marshals are already working and 13000 bus marshals will be deployed in the buses from Tuesday. The new marshals will work in Morning and evening shifts and as schedule will be provided at each of depots.
Besides, the government has also begun the project of installing three lakh CCTV cameras , 2.5 lakh street lights to create a safe and secure environment for the women especially who works late in night.
He said, "I want to request all the marshals that women should feel safe just like they feel safe in their homes. We have entrusted you with a huge responsibility. 13000 bus marshals will be appointed in a single day, which has happened in Delhi for the first time in the world," said Transport minister Kailash Gahlot.
The fleet of DTC buses will be increased keeping in view the convenience of the commuters. In this line 1000 CNG buses and 300 Electric buses will be added to the fleet of DTC soon and safety of women, children and senior citizens will be ensured, said Manoj Kumar, Managing Director of DTC.