DTC Gender Trainings: Our Experiences

In the period September to December 2007, trainers from JAGORI visited the Nand Nagari Bus Depot, that houses a training school for DTC bus drivers and conductors, thrice every week to conduct sessions on the issue of sexual harassment. Over 3,500 bus drivers and conductors have undergone training with JAGORI as part of this initiative.

The main focus of these sessions was to place sexual harassment in the larger context of gender discrimination and to bring about a shift in the way it is popularly perceived today. To recognize it as sexual harassment, a serious crime as against something that is as playful and frivolous as “eve-teasing” or “chedkhani“.

The sessions were conducted inside a stationary DTC bus to give a feel of the real environment and also to place the drivers and conductors literally in the shoes of DTC passengers. The sessions were interactive and involved experience sharing, role plays and discussion with participants to finally come up with the role the participants could themselves play in making bus journeys safe for women and girls.

The sessions brought out many deep-rooted beliefs that are instilled as a part of our socialization and provide the necessary sanction for certain kinds of violence.
“Ham apney beton se kehetein hain ki ek ke badley mein paanch laga kar aa… par hum apni betiyon se kehtein hein ki agar tumhe koi ched raha hai to chup chaap bardaasht karke wahan se nikal jaana…. aur kisi se is baat ko mat kehna” We consciously bring up our daughters to bear with violence perpetrated on them but never do we teach them to contest it.

Popular myths were discussed and busted during the sessions:
“A man would never harass a woman who doesn’t want to be harassed. Only with some form of signal from the woman will he go ahead and do it.”
“Aaj kal ki ladkiyan chote kapdey pahenti hain, aur media ke nashey mein rehtin hein. Issey to becharey ladke bahaut aakarsit ho jaatey hain”

Some participants who had indeed tried to intervene in situations of sexual harassment by stopping the bus next to a PCR Van felt let down by the women they were trying to help:“Jab hum help karne ke liye PCR van ke paas gaadi roktey hain, tab ladkiyan gayab ho jaateen hain. Hamein police ko jawab dena padta hai”
Other participants explained this behaviour on the part of women by citing the socio-cultural reasons of shame, honour and morality because of which women refrain from reporting such crimes.
A small role-play, gave the participants a chance to explore how it would be to actually raise their voices against sexual harassment. This added to their understanding of why women hesitate to file an FIR or follow up on a case of sexual harassment.

The sessions ended with the role the of the DTC staff in ensuring a safe travel for women and girls. It was very encouraging to hear the kind of action ideas most of the drivers and conductors came up with to handle situations of sexual harassment in their bus. The actions varied from stopping the bus and refusing to move until the perpetrator gets out of the bus, to taking a detour to drop off the woman closest to her home if required, especially late at night.

Photographs

Related Links

DTC Partners with JAGORI on the Safe Delhi Campaign