Reclaiming the road and hitching a ‘pink’ ride this Women’s Day

http://www.sunday-guardian.com/young-restless/reclaiming-the-road-and-hitching-a-pink-ride-this-womens-day Summoning a cab with just the click of a mouse (or a tap on a smartphone) may be a reality of the world we live in. But to think the same about an auto rickshaw seems like a luxury even today, despite the fact that auto rickshaws are far more visible and ubiquitous than cabs in any Indian city. When www.autowale.in began their journey in Pune, it was an unheard of affair. It was this gap that the duo from IIT Kanpur ­— Mukesh Jha and Janardan Prasad — tried to address, way back in 2011. Today, connecting almost 1,000 rickshaw drivers, ferrying almost 10,000 passengers a day within Pune, autowale.in is an exemplum of entrepreneurship with a vision beyond money-making; that of making para-transit an easier, more professional and more convenient affair. This International Women's Day, autowale.in are rebranding themselves as "pink". The hoods of each auto-rickshaw under their banner will be coloured pink to send a strong message about Autowale's commitment towards gender-sensitive transit traffic on roads. Janardan Prasad, the COO and co-founder of Autowale, says, "Women feel safer in auto rickshaws than in cabs. This was a surprising find for us. Much before the unfortunate Delhi Uber case, we found it increasingly persistent to tailor-make our para-transit network to expand it substantially to women travelers — attract more passengers as well as re-instill faith in our already existent customer base. We thought that going pink on Women's Day will be an extremely positive move in this regard." After the Delhi Uber rape case, one realised how unsafe the confines of a cab are. Women learnt, to their horror, through debates in traditional and on social media, that auto rickshaws are much more organised and systematised in terms of maintaining and verifying records of drivers. Police verification of drivers is a very process-oriented activity. The network of cabs, on the other hand, has no such tediousness associated with the registration process. So much so that a cab driver working across cities easily manages to drive in a new city as well, without the hassle of documentation and verification work. It becomes easy to imagine why the process of complaints' redressal is much easier and convenient for auto rickshaws, as compared to cabs. Prasad says, "The Uber incident made us reflect... If we had a robust transit network of auto rickshaws in cities like Delhi, the incident would not happened at all. It is with this thought that we realised that entrepreneurs like us, working on improving transit traffic on roads, need to send a strong and positive signal to our women passengers in making auto rickshaws a preferred mode of transport in cities. This International Women's Day, apart from merely appearing pink, we will also offer free rides to women travellers in our auto rickshaws and carry our awareness campaigns around corporate and residential locations." Delhi roads are currently being transformed by the extremely affordable rides offered by apps such as Ola. But however robust a system one works out with cab service operators, the sheer openness of travelling in auto rickshaws makes the experience relatively safer (there's always the option of jumping out of an auto rickshaw in case of an emergency). So an innovation like www.autowale.in should, in some way, change the state of public transport in the city. While similar applications do exist across cities, Autowale in currently only in Pune. However, following a successful pilot project in Bangalore last year, plans are in place to expand Autowale to 20 cities by the end of the year, spreading to as many as 100 cities by next year. It's worth pondering over: Why do women not claim roads as aggressively as they put their feet forward in claiming office spaces? Why is it that, while we try so hard in creating a feminist discourse around the country, we hypocritically alienate specific professions and spaces as less respectable and less honourable? One of the reasons why crime happens against women on roads is also because there are not enough women drivers and women managers of transit traffic on our roads. Sheela Kamble, one of the first woman auto rickshaw drivers on Indian roads, says, "Women need to realise that working in offices is not the only way to be employed and that this discrimination should end from we think of gender equality and claiming equal treatment. When I drove on roads, I came across so many women and men marvelling at the fact that I chose this profession. But for me, this was just another job. I did not want to make and sell pickles. Why does making that choice make me special?" "It is really empowering that women like Sheela are at the forefront," says Prasad, "trying to propagate a gender-neutral perspective not only from the confines of an elite round-table seminar but from a vantage point where they have worked, experienced and seen it all. Our going pink is also an exercise in venerating such strong women and creating a whole discourse around gender-sensitive and gender-neutral atmosphere on our roads." Kamble adds, "Apps such as these not only help passengers but also auto rickshaw drivers because it becomes easier for drivers to get their problems addressed. The fact that passengers can also cheat and misbehave with drivers is not registered in the public imagination." http://www.sunday-guardian.com/young-restless/reclaiming-the-road-and-hitching-a-pink-ride-this-womens-day

A Menstruation Kit With A Difference: Sadhvi Thukral [Interview]

http://www.womensweb.in/2014/08/sadhvi-thukral-menstruation-kit/

Sadhvi Thukral is a post graduate student at the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad. Prior to studying at NID, Sadhvi worked at Jatan Sansthan as part of her internship in between her graduation days at Pearl Academy, Noida. It was during that stint with Jatan that Sadhvi designed India’s first design kit for the visually impaired to understand menstruation.

She created ‘Kahani har Mahine ki’ – a booklet and kit to help visually challenged girls and women understand the intricacies of the female life. ‘Kahani…’ comprises of a braille booklet that compiles literature around safe and hygienic menstruation and a three dimensional, practical kit to help the visually impaired know the facts easily and lucidly.

Here are excerpts of an interview with a young, effervescent, passionate social innovator and designer.

Shubhrastha : Sadhvi, you have done a marvellous feat at bringing this issue to the forefront of not just society but also of one of the most neglected section of the same. What has been your inspiration?

Sadhvi Thukral : I was staying with a family in Udaipur, when I realized that women of that household do not enter the kitchen during their menstruation. It came as a shock that in this supposedly ‘modern’ day and age, a perfectly natural and biological phenomenon of menstruation is treated as a taboo. Perhaps, somewhere the need to talk about it flickered in my mind.

I was amazed by the non-availability of supporting and core material for the visually impaired, (women, especially) vis-a-vis reproductive health. While all of us -meaning people with good eyesight and education- could research on the internet, feed on information through advertisements, written material etc. I realized that there is a huge lack that needs to be addressed.

Visually impaired girls reach puberty at a younger age than most of us, and it was appalling that neither the syllabi in schools nor in colleges were sensitive to the vacuum. Also, I had always been interested in disability  and issues related to the disabled. So, there I was – with a vision that had come to reveal itself in slight haziness.

I had to submit my end of semester project in college. And I decided that I would design a kit that would try to give the necessary information in as much of detail as possible. So, I chose to author literature around menstruation and menstrual health which could be converted into braille, and also produce a three dimensional kit which could be instrumental in acting as a sensory support to the literature.

Now that you have designed the kit and there has been a fair amount of buzz regarding the same, what do you plan to do next with the same? Is there a plan to further the intent of working on the issue?

Sadhvi Thukral: Well, frankly, I did not know that the kit would be talked about so much. But I am thankful that it got the attention. Right now, I want this kit to be used as extensively as possible. I also wish that this becomes the core part of school curricula and meets its core objective. I am still to decide on the modalities of the same. But my vision is very clear.

Have you tried approaching government institutions and non-governmental organizations?

Sadhvi Thukral : As a matter of fact, yes. But the responses have been verbal more than in actions. Currently, I am looking for partners for funds. In fact, I am ready to provide the entire kit for free to just anyone who wants to use it for the cause.

How far do you see “Kahani…” as a part of a social advocacy tool? Or do you not see it that way at all?

Sadhvi Thukral : Of course, I do. Social advocacy or not, am not sure. But I want to see every visually impaired girl and woman in the country as educated and equipped with information on menstruation and menstrual hygiene as a visually able woman or girl.

Also, the taboo to talk about menstruation, the social bias in dealing with menstruating women, the culture of shame that marginalizes a woman undergoing something as natural as this should end. I will do whatever it takes to achieve that.

http://www.womensweb.in/2014/08/sadhvi-thukral-menstruation-kit/

Inspired to change

http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/society/inspired-to-change/article4660838.ece

A simple question, “Are you following your truth?” changed the world for Madhusudan Agarwal. Chasing their truths, Madhusudan and Meghna Agarwal, moved to the United States to learn film making. Later, they returned to India to find stories and co-found MAM Movies. For, according to Madhusudan, “Stories are important. What they tell is important.”

MAM Movies, media for social change, is a platform to bring about social transformation in a non-intrusive manner and film makers from all walks of life are encouraged to submit their works. “In a way, it is an attempt to sustain the spirit of that anonymous act of kindness which gifted me a camera with a smile card,” he says. This was when the duo, Meghna and Madhusudan, were on their way back to India after having learnt film making in the US.

A report by the United Nations that talked about the need for expression as one of the biggest needs of society propelled the initiation of a project SHE Creates. Girl students of 10-15 years from schools in Dharavi to international and public schools of Mumbai, were brought together to participate in a film making workshop and made short films on anything that attracted their interest. 

“We offered them cameras and asked them to just shoot on anything that struck them. Issues of human trafficking, dowry and female foeticide emerged on the reels. The confidence which they gained after having submitted their films about issues that they felt were very close to their hearts made them quite bold. Fuelled by this self confidence, girls from Dharavi later entered government offices with cameras and made sure that ration cards were issued on their names without delay and corruption. And that did happen,” says Madhusudan.

But MAM Movies, as an organisation, does not have an activists’ approach and they make films because it makes them happy, Madhusudan is quick to explain. It is an open source network of voluntary independent film makers.

http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/society/inspired-to-change/article4660838.ece

Hitch a safe ride

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/hitch-a-safe-ride/article4200259.ece

The late 1950s saw the introduction of auto rickshaws on Indian streets. With the burgeoning population, increase in number of private vehicles, introduction of metro trains and more public buses in the cities, auto rickshaws have been facing newer challenges to survive in and acclimatise to the road transport system.

Its unorganised nature is responsible for auto rickshaw’s lack of a brand image, poor public perception, randomised services and operational inefficiencies such as empty trips. Weighing the challenges of the scenario, entrepreneurs in various capacities have begun to take interest in streamlining auto rickshaw services, in turn, taking a step towards sustainable, safe, affordable and profitable road and transport network.

Embarq India and Shell Foundation hosted a roundtable conference last week to discuss the challenges and opportunities in para transit and to promote entrepreneurship in organising and streamlining auto rickshaw services.

Entrepreneur Nirmal was studying at IIM Ahmadabad when an auto driver’s attempts to fleece him for a short distance ride prompted him to initiate a unique model of streamlining the otherwise unorganised auto rickshaws in the area. What began as a small venture of forming a network of 10-15 drivers has expanded to a huge network of 10,000 “G-auto” drivers today in Ahmadabad, Gandhinagar and Vadodara.

At his charitable trust — Nirmal Foundation -- he works on a self revenue based model generated through advertisements and bookings in newspapers and magazines. Auto rickshaws registered with the trust are provided with the name of a trusted brand. This increases the credibility of para transit provided by these vehicles in the market. Additionally, the trust gives insurance and medical facilities to the drivers, ensures their children’s education and augments the quality of their business by inculcating behavioural changes in them through free training sessions. The passengers, in turn, get trouble-free rides at optimum costs.

In a similar vein, Janardan Prasad and Mukesh Jha in Pune and Bangalore operate another entrepreneurial venture with the objective of fleet optimisation on roads. The duo, pass-outs from IIT-Kanpur, formed a ‘for-profit’ network marrying technology, communications, IT systems and services to bridge the gap between commuters and auto rickshaw drivers.

A survey conducted by them reported only one per cent of passengers are happy with the services provided by auto rickshaws plying on Pune roads. They converted it into an opportunity and consolidated their vision of fleet optimisation as autowale.in with the mission of ‘becoming the Google of auto rickshaw sector’.

At autowale.in, the attempt has been to organise auto rickshaws in Pune and Bangalore under their banner. It uses GMS towers to track their vehicles, write algorithms and help in planning travel for both passengers and drivers. This has gone a long way to minimise traffic congestion and tackle the problems of empty rides often faced by drivers on their way back after dropping passengers. Also, the process of surveillance has ensured passengers’ safety and saved them from falling prey to exorbitant travel costs.

The conference had representatives from the world of finance commenting on the huge possibility and opportunity in making the exercise of organising the largely unorganised sector of auto rickshaws a profitable one.

While pointing to the Centre’s sluggish response to innovations in the field, a leading finance expert said that since the exercise is new for the government, too, one needs to highlight and focus on the profitability and scalability of ventures like those which have made success stories like G-auto orautowale.in for the governments to take notice. In addition, he also talked about the need to encourage public-private-partnership models in this largely unexploited sector.

The conference showcased effective strategies to rope in angel investors and foundations and ensure an environment of sustaining entrepreneurial attempts.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/hitch-a-safe-ride/article4200259.ece