Reserved "Ladies' Coach" In New Delhi

 

Taken from http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/25/stories/2010102550550100.htm

     Earlier this month, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation in India introduced the concept of a "ladies" only coach to the New Delhi metro system.  For this experimental endeavor, the DMRC reserved the first out of the four coaches of each train for women, who are said to make up about 25% of the metro travelers. They are allowed to bring on children with them up to 12 years of age, and do not have to put up with the other crowded, cramped coaches, in which people need to push their way out in order to get off at the right stop without being blocked in by the commuters going in at the same time.  Most members of the "fairer sex," as they are referred in more than one article, are in favor of the change, and enjoy having more room, less crowding, and an easier time getting on and off without the mad-house pushing and shoving to get on and off the train.  Men, of course, are not happy about it, and say that there is even more crowding on the other coaches now than there was before, and barely even have much breathing space in the cramped area.  Some men have been getting onto the "ladies-only coach" despite the new rule, either because they are illiterate and cannot read the signs, or because there is simply not enough room on the remaining three coaches.  The DMRC has now stated that a fine will be issued to any men who attempt to ride the women's coach, and there will be personnel stationed at the entrances of the reserved coaches to ensure that men do not try to enter. 
     As I searched for articles about gender across the world from us, this really stuck out to me.  In all the articles I found about the policy I could not find any stated reason for exactly why the new rule was created, whether it be for safety, for general comfort of female commuters, or for some other reason.  I can imagine viewpoints that would see this as both a good thing for the women if they are able to ride more comfortably without worrying about being pushed around in the crowded coaches, a bad thing for the women because it reinforces the idea that the "fairer sex" needs to be protected from the aspects of life that tough men can handle, and, of course, a bad thing for men who now need to ride through even worse conditions than existed on the trains before the ladies' coach was created.  What do you think are the pros and cons of this change, and what do you think wins out?  Is the ladies' coach is a good idea for New Delhi, or not?

http://sify.com/news/ladies-coach-on-metro-women-are-happy-men-are-not-news-national-kkeuafgjaad.html

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Women-fume-as-men-ride-Metro-s-ladies-coaches/Article1-608887.aspx

http://sify.com/news/thumbs-up-for-metro-s-ladies-coach-news-national-kkdqOciifee.html

http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/25/stories/2010102550550100.htm

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Metro--Men-in-women-s-coaches-to-be-fined-Rs-200/701957