As part of its endeavour to give them work chances, Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot stated that the government intends to have 200 women bus drivers with the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC). Additionally, he gave appointment letters to the first group of 11 female bus drivers who have finished training and will work for the DTC.
"It is an important day for women. It was CM Arvind Kejriwal's dream to empower women and provide them employment. Today, 11 women drivers got employment letters after completing their training. Ten more women are getting trained while the other batches have also begun. We plan to have 200 women drivers in DTC," he told reporters.
The Delhi government relaxed the height and experience requirements for hiring women drivers for DTC and cluster buses in the city in February of this year. For female candidates applying for the position of bus driver, the minimum height requirement was dropped from three years to one month following the issuance of a heavy motor vehicle licence.
"We had relaxed norms for them. These women drivers have completed a training of three months. They have been trained in the depot and also have had on-road training. Experienced trainers from DTC have trained them," Gahlot added.
In February this year, the Delhi government had relaxed the height and experience criteria for recruitment of women drivers for DTC and cluster buses in the capital. The minimum height was reduced from 159 cm to 153 cm while the experience period after issuance of heavy motor vehicle licence was lowered to one month from three years in the past for female applicants applying for the post of bus driver.
"We had relaxed norms for them. These women drivers have completed a training of three months. They have been trained in the depot and also have had on-road training. Experienced trainers from DTC have trained them," Gahlot added.
