In 2022, a report by the World Economic Forum revealed that India ranked lower than Saudi Arabia in the gender gap index. The findings prompted disbelief as gender disparities are legally enforced in Saudi Arabia. Although India did nudge ahead of its West Asian counterpart by a small margin in 2023, it still finds itself lingering near the bottom of the list, at a dismal 127 out of 146 countries.
This index takes into account four key areas – economic participation and opportunities, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. India’s struggles with providing women economic opportunities have been a major factor holding it back on the global stage.
Did you know that Indian women only contribute about 18% to the country’s GDP? It’s one of the lowest rates globally. And here’s another eye-opener: just a quarter of India’s labour force is made up of women. When we look at urban areas specifically, we see a myriad of issues holding women back from fully participating in the workforce and the economy.
Why Are Women Missing From The Workplace?
Various factors ranging from societal norms to economic challenges and infrastructure issues present significant hurdles for women. However, among these obstacles, inadequate public transportation emerges as a prominent barrier. Public transport systems frequently suffer from unreliability, inaccessibility, and safety concerns. Consequently, these challenges impede women’s ability to enter the workforce and participate in economic activities with the same degree of freedom enjoyed by men.
For women to actively participate in the labour force, perceptions of public safety need to change. Youth Ki Awaaz (YKA) and Observer Research Foundation (ORF) conducted a survey to understand women’s perceptions of safety about public transportation in 2019-2020. The survey gathered responses from over 4000 women from 140 Indian cities. With 88% of surveyed women utilising public transport, it is evident that improving safety measures within these systems is crucial for fostering an environment where women feel secure and empowered to actively contribute to the labour force.
While analysing distances travelled by women, it was found that 22% women travel between 10-20 km every day, followed by 18% travelling between 5-10 km and only 3% travelling less than 1 km. Moreover, it was noted that of those women who do not use public transport, the least proportions were in the lower-income groups, with 6% in the below- INR 10,000 monthly income group, and 8% in the INR 10,000-15,000 monthly bracket.
This sheds light on a critical socio economic aspect: the majority of surveyed women may not have the financial means to afford private modes of transportation. Despite facing the necessity of travelling between 10-20 kilometres per day, these women are constrained by financial limitations, compelling them to rely on public transport, which may often be unsafe and unreliable. This mix of economic constraints and safety concerns in public transportation points to the complex dynamics impacting women’s workforce participation rates and highlights the urgent need for interventions to address these challenges.
Safety Concerns and Women’s Access to Education and Employment
A staggering 52% of women revealed that they had declined education or employment opportunities because of safety concerns during their commute. With a considerable portion of women relying on public transport to commute to work, the pervasive sense of insecurity during travel acts as a deterrent, limiting their ability to access educational and professional opportunities.
In the data gathered by YKA and ORF, 18% participants answered that they felt most unsafe at interchanges while 16% felt most unsafe inside overcrowded public transport vehicles. This data highlights not only a lack of gender sensitive infrastructure to support mobility for women, but also a lack of vehicles to accommodate the mobility needs of everyone in cities.
Moreover, participants not only seek more transport facilities (buses for example) on the road but also emphasise the importance of accessing data on vehicle occupancy to mitigate discomfort and ensure safety. However, a stark disparity exists where India needs to increase the number of public transport buses by 2600%. According to data from 2020, there is a requirement of 666,667 buses against the current 25,000 in operation. Hence, there is a significant gap in meeting the transportation needs of women who rely on public transport.
The Toll On Economic Development
The failure to address the glaring inadequacies in public transportation not only hampers individual economic opportunities but also incurs significant economic losses at a national level. With a considerable portion of women opting out of education or employment due to safety concerns during commutes, the workforce remains deprived of valuable talent and expertise.
This loss of human capital translates into reduced productivity, innovation, and competitiveness in the global market. Furthermore, by perpetuating gender disparities in workforce participation, these decisions reinforce existing inequalities, hindering the realisation of India’s full economic potential. The exclusion of women from the workforce not only stifles their personal and professional growth but also undermines the nation’s ability to achieve sustainable and inclusive economic development.
Data on instances of sexual harassment while using public transport highlight the urgency of the issue. While 56% of women surveyed said they have experienced sexual harassment in public transportation systems, only 2% of women reported incidents of sexual harassment to authorities. This indicates a significant trust deficit in the authorities’ capacity to handle such matters sensitively and efficiently. This reluctance to report incidents reflects not only a lack of trust in authorities but also a dearth of accessible and effective redressal mechanisms.
The Impact of Personal Stories on Public Discourse
In 2017, Annu Singh, a member of Youth Ki Awaaz, shared her personal account of confronting harassment in public spaces. In her poignant narrative, she sheds light on the myriad ways in which women endure unwelcome touches, leers, and gestures in public settings, all of which contribute to their profound discomfort and unease. In one such incident she recalls travelling in a train seated in the upper compartment with a junior colleague.
Their peaceful journey took an unsettling turn when some middle-aged men joined their compartment at a station. To their discomfort, one of them took the seat directly beneath. After a while, she began to feel a strange sensation, as if something was poking at her thighs. Concerned, she lifted her leg to investigate, only to discover that the man had inserted two of his fingers through a break in the seat. Following the publication of this article, numerous women came forward to recount their own encounters with uncomfortable crowds.
Garnering the attention of over 100,000 readers, the piece sparked a significant debate across various social media platforms. Annu’s story, along with the countless narratives shared by other women serve as an uncomfortable indicator of the prevalent safety concerns within public transportation systems.
Furthermore, the data reveals a concerning lack of awareness among women commuters regarding emergency numbers for transport services, with 72% reporting that they are unaware of such contact information. This combination of poor trust in authorities and inadequate awareness of redressal mechanisms compounds the challenges faced by women in accessing safe and reliable public transportation.
The data presented highlights the urgent need for policymakers and stakeholders to take proactive steps in improving safety in public transportation to enhance women’s economic participation. It is imperative that policymakers prioritise the implementation of stringent safety protocols, raise awareness about available support services and emergency contact information, and improve the accessibility and inclusivity of public transportation infrastructure.
Public spaces are meant to be accessible for all. However, mobility concerns for women are vastly different from men and need sensitive and pointed solutions. By addressing these issues, policymakers have an opportunity to create a safer and more inclusive public transportation environment that not only supports women’s empowerment but also facilitates their increased economic participation.
Methodology for survey:
A comprehensive survey was conducted across India, encompassing responses from 4,262 women to examine the influence of safety concerns on transportation choices. Spanning a ten-month period from December 2019 to September 2020, data was collected online, targeting a diverse demographic across 140 cities.
The survey delved into various factors including age, income, employment, student status, and residential location, aiming to dissect the impact of safety concerns on mobility choices. Differentiating between public transport users and non-users, the survey sought to understand the preferences and behaviors of each group, with a focus on identifying potential factors influencing a shift towards public transport adoption. Before public dissemination, a closed pilot phase ensured the survey’s objectivity and functionality across various online platforms.
Utilizing logistic regression analysis, the survey findings were examined, revealing correlations between respondents’ demographics and their propensity to use public transport. Age, income, employment status, and education were considered as predictors, with public transport usage treated as a binary dependent variable. By disaggregating data based on these variables, the survey aimed to unveil nuanced patterns and insights, informing potential interventions to promote safer and more inclusive transportation systems.
To read more about YKA’s survey methodology click here.