Episode Details

Our cities and public transit systems are often built under the assumption that they are gender-neutral. Yet, female workers face severe transit-related barriers that force them to compromise on their health, safety, and earning capacity.

We unpack ground-level evidence from recent studies in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Nepal to examine how deficient infrastructure penalizes women. Experts from the International Labour Organization, Safetipin, and the Azad Foundation discuss why we must move past viewing women as passive beneficiaries of developmental aid and instead empower them as agential stakeholders in municipal decision-making.

• Six out of eight major transport depots surveyed in Delhi completely lacked rest areas for female drivers and conductors.
• Many women deliberately reduce their daily water intake to avoid unhygienic public restrooms, risking severe long-term health issues.
• In Mumbai, active lobbying succeeded in reserving urban land in every ward specifically for childcare, single women's housing, and shelters.
• Unintended consequences of well-meaning transport policies, such as free bus passes, can sometimes increase a woman's unpaid care burden at home.
• Mobilizing local women leaders is a highly effective model for holding governments accountable and improving grassroots public amenities.

The session highlights that while Nepal’s constitution and policies formally recognize decent work and gender equality, the primary challenge remains the practical enforcement of these laws at the municipal level.

What will it take for local governments to treat care and sanitation infrastructure as essential macroeconomic investments rather than minor social luxuries?