Women-friendly services get a thumbs up from Chennaiites

S Devaki, B Jayalakshmi and Nagomi -these three women in the city have a similar employment background.
All of them were working as valets in a city hotel. Now, these women have taken up a new task -the role of women drivers. In another few weeks, they will be seen on Chennai roads, plying women passengers in their taxis across the city .
At the launch of their taxi service a few days ago, these young women, clad in pink shirts and black pants, had only one thing to say -provide women passengers a safe ride.
“We are also regular public transport users and know the trouble women face. With driving being a passion for us, we are happy to be part of this new venture in Chennai,“ says Devaki, as she fastens her seat belt before she takes a group of women for a short ride.
According to Nina Reddy , one of the members of a women's club that supports this initiative, the taxi service will start as soon as the required permission and routes are fixed. “One of the taxis will run as a share auto only for women. The other two air-conditioned ones can be booked by an individual woman or a group of lady passengers.
Soon, the vehicles will also be installed with GPS and meter. This will ensure a safe and hassle-free travel for women passengers across the city ,“ informs Nina.
Interestingly , Chennai has begun witnessing several such women-friendly initiatives of late. Meter autos for women by women and Chennai Corporation's `She Toilets' project are similar initiatives.
Mansoor Ali Khan launched his women exclusive autos early this year. The fleet of autos provides both safe and comfortable journey to lady passengers. “Our vehicles run on government-approved rates from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm. And post that, the autos ply permanent passengers, who are mostly women IT professionals. The tabs available in the autos provide both entertainment and also have a facility that alerts our call centre and the nearest police station in case of an emerg e n c y .
Meanwhile, I am also launching a cab service exclusively for women in July,“ claims Mansoor.
Appreciating the need for such services, Gayatri Varma, an IT professional working in Thoraipakkam, says, “With several incidents of crime being reported recently along the recently along the OMR, safety is a major concern for working women like me. Women exclusive auto services are really helpful and it's a big relief as a safe journey is assured.“
The Chennai Corporation's `She Toilets' project is another initiative that is in its initial stages. And according to reports, they will be functional by the end of this year.
These toilets will be electronic, fully automated and will also have sanitary napkin vending machines. The unit automatically cleans up the entire toilet after every five uses.
These toilets, which will be placed in bus stands, markets and open spaces, will come as a big relief for women street vendors, construction workers, passengers and traffic cops. “Most of the existing toilets are filthy and unusable. This will be really helpful to women who work outdoors and lady passengers,“ says Swathi S, a regular bus traveler.
After the introduction of all-women police stations and exclusive women's help desk in all police stations several years ago, these new women-friendly initiatives also get a thumbs up from Chennaiites, especially the women.