Kolkata, Feb 16 (Bureau) Aiming to improve women’s safety on the road, the KolkataTraffic Police is now holding a three-month workshop for the city’s auto-rickshaw and cab drivers to sensitise them about their responsibility to ensure female commuters feel secure in their vehicles. Headlined “This car respects women”, the workshop, began on Tuesday, with the participation of 100 auto rickshaw and cab drivers from across the city.
Organised in collaboration with IMI Kolkata, the workshop sessions would bring together the perspectives of both the drivers and the passengers on the same platform, said Biplab Sinha, Assistant Commissioner of Police, South West Division. Edwin J Charles, Assistant Commissioner of Police, South West Traffic Guard spoke about how these sessions will not only create awareness amongst the masses but also generate a feeling of safety during travel in the minds of all the women.
“The cab and auto drivers become the first point of contact for the visitors to the city, and hence, are responsible for the very reputation of the city and are the flag bearers of a safer Kolkata,” said Charles. Mohua Banerjee, Director, Director IMI, said fears about incidents pertaining to women safety is very real. “There is a constant inner voice asking, “Are we safe”. This is a setback for the women in our society. “When a lady steps into the cab, it is the responsibility of the driver to make her feel safe about the journey”, she said.