What the free bus tickets did to women in Tamil Nadu | S2E19 The OoruLabs Podcast

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On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of OoruLabs talks to Sumana Narayan who worked on a report which documented the impact of the free bus scheme in Tamil Nadu while working at Citizen, consumer and civic action group. This is an absolutely eye opening interview. It opens my eyes to how women use the bus completely different from men. This is a must listen.



You can download the full report here https://www.cag.org.in/database/fair-fares-towards-gender-inclusive-public-transport 

The conversation explores the implementation and impact of free bus rides for women in Indian states. The study focuses on the Tamil Nadu government's fair free public transport scheme for women. The findings reveal that women were able to save money and invest it in their families' well-being. The scheme also provided women with greater mobility and access to job opportunities. However, there was backlash from some men who felt it was unfair and a burden on the exchequer. The study suggests that the scheme has multiple benefits, including improved nutrition, healthcare, and women's empowerment. The conversation explores the challenges and potential solutions related to the implementation of free bus services for women in India. The main themes discussed include the inadequate fleet strength, overcrowding, poor frequency, and lack of disabled-friendly buses. The need for better data collection and analysis to improve services and address the specific travel patterns of women is emphasized. The complexity of the current ticketing system and the potential benefits of simplifying fare structures are also highlighted. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the financial viability of public transport systems and the importance of budgeting for long-term sustainability.

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Keywords

free bus rides, women, socio-economic participation, mobility, public transport, Tamil Nadu, impact, savings, investment, job opportunities, backlash, benefits, nutrition, healthcare, women's empowerment, free bus services, women, fleet strength, overcrowding, frequency, data collection, fare structures, financial viability

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Timecodes

00:00 Introduction: Free Bus Rides for Women in Indian States

02:36 Motivation for the Study: Understanding the Success of the Scheme

05:26 Methodology: Surveying Women Across Six Cities in Tamil Nadu

09:38 Findings: Savings, Investment, and Impact on Women's Lives

11:30 Backlash and Debates: Fairness and Burden on the Exchequer

15:14 Impact on Women's Mobility and Access to Job Opportunities

21:18 Balancing the Argument: Benefits Beyond Economic Quantification

23:17 Broader Benefits: Nutrition, Healthcare, and Women's Empowerment

25:13 Conclusion: Need for Further Study and Future Considerations

27:35 Challenges of Inadequate Fleet Strength and Overcrowding

29:01 The Need for Better Data Collection and Analysis

33:21 Simplifying Fare Structures for Accessibility and Affordability

46:30 Budgeting for Long-Term Financial Viability

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Stock video and picture credits to various contributors. All rights belong to respective owners.

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