Delhi: Women bus drivers demand job security and fair wages

The women bus drivers of Delhi have a clear demand for Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot: they want their jobs to be made permanent, moving away from the current contractual system. These drivers, a total of 95 in the national capital, are playing a crucial role in ensuring commuters reach their destinations safely, yet they face numerous challenges at work.

Patriot visited several bus depots in the city to understand the reality of their working conditions. Conversations with the women drivers revealed a stark contrast between government claims and the drivers’ actual experiences. They spoke about various issues, including a lack of restrooms, inadequate security, and more.

Frequent bus breakdowns

Lata, a 40-year-old single moth er of three from Badarpur, shared her experience. As the sole breadwinner, she works at the Okhla bus depot and faces significant difficulties on the job.

“The buses of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) break down daily,” she explained. “When this happens, we’re left stranded on the road for three to four hours, waiting for repairs and arranging for passengers to be transferred to another bus. This not only wastes time but also affects our income, as we’re paid based on the km we drive each day.”

She added, “Driving a bus on Delhi’s roads is no easy task, and we deserve to be made permanent employees so that we can receive a fixed monthly salary.”

Satyawati, another driver from Madanpur Khadar, echoed these concerns. “Bus break downs are a major issue for us. They cause financial loss and significant mental stress. Driving in the city’s traffic is exhausting, and the department is paying us peanuts for such a challenging job.”

She explained the payment structure: “We’re paid Rs 816 for a day if we drive over 100 km. After that, we get Rs 8 per km for the next 20 km. Drivers can only cover a maximum of 120 km in a day.”

However, with the frequent breakdowns, we’re often unable to meet even the 100-km target, which results in salary cuts.”

Additionally, the transport department offers a Rs 3,000 incentive if we cover 2,600 km in a month. However, due to the frequent breakdowns of DTC buses, we often can’t even complete 100 km a day, leading to salary cuts,” Satyawati said.

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No paid leave

Lata also highlighted the issue of unpaid leave. “We work 26 days a month, and we’re only paid for the days we drive. There are no weekly offs. If we rest for a day, we don’t get paid. This is unfair, especially since we are all on contracts,” she said.

“Driving a bus is physically demanding, and as women, we also have household responsibilities. We deserve at least one paid day off per week, just like permanent employees,” she argued.

Satyawati, who also works at the Okhla depot, shared her frustration: “We are human beings too and need a day off. The department promised us a lot when we joined, but the reality is very different.”

No sick leave

Satyawati also pointed out the lack of provisions for sick leave during menstruation. “We’re forced to work even during our periods because if we take a day off, our pay is deducted. Everyone knows how painful periods can be, but we still drive for eight hours a day to avoid losing our wages.”

Lata, who experiences severe pain during her menstrual cycle, often takes two days off despite knowing she won’t be paid. “Driving a bus is a big responsibility, and I can’t risk the lives of commuters when I’m unwell. But the financial loss is something I have to bear.”

Poor facilities

The drivers also face poor work ing conditions at the depots. Satyawati said, “There are no proper restrooms for women. We drive for more than eight hours, and when we return, there’s no place to rest. It’s disgraceful.”

She added that the toilets for women drivers are in a terrible state: “They’re filthy and stink, so we only use them in emergencies. This is a basic facility that should be available to everyone.”

Lata echoed these concerns: “The washrooms are in such deplorable condition that we wait until we get home to use the toilet. There’s no cleaning or sanitation at the depot.”

Lack of safety

Safety and security are major concerns for the women drivers in the capital. They worry about their well-being as a wide variety of passengers use the buses.

Recalling an incident, Satyawati said, “Once, a passenger came to the driver’s seat and tried to assault me. I started shouting, and he ran away.”

“These kinds of incidents keep happening because there are no bus marshals assigned during the morning shifts to ensure our safety. They’re not even deployed on buses driven by women. This is very concerning,” she said.

Lata added, “We are capable of handling the passengers, but what’s difficult is the lack of sup port from our own staff. Even if the bus marshals aren’t deployed, the conductors are always present. Yet they don’t support us. Sometimes, they yell at us for no reason. It’s very dis appointing. They taunt us, saying we’ve taken their jobs and that’s why they aren’t being promoted.”

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Transport department’s negligence

Satyawati said, “Since I joined the transport department two years ago, they have been very negligent towards the hardships faced by women bus drivers. Due to frequent bus breakdowns, our monthly pay has been cut in half, as we are unable to meet our 100 km target, resulting in reduced pay. We’ve tried to raise this issue with our seniors, but no one is willing to listen.”

“This month, I was paid only Rs 13,000, despite it being the festive season. How am I supposed to support my family on this salary? Initially, we earned Rs 28,000 per month, including incentives, but after our depot shifted to Okhla, we haven’t been able to meet even our daily targets because of the constant bus breakdowns,” she explained.

“I have one request for the Delhi government, that transport minister Kailash Gahlot should sit with the female bus drivers, listen to their issues, and take action,” Satyawati added.

Demand for permanent employment

The women drivers assert that becoming permanent employees would help resolve many of their issues, such as the absence of paid leave, inadequate wages, and poor working conditions.

They also demanded that the government consider increasing wages for female drivers in light of the current inflation in the country.

Despite repeated attempts to get a response from the Delhi government, they have declined to comment on the matter.