SHETAXIES
The
inauguration of the service in front of the Kanakakunnu Palace grounds here on
Sunday belied all their anxieties.Apart from road blocks and slight confusion
over the route of the first trip, the launch of the service was a colourful
affair. Social Welfare Minister M.K. Muneer and Manju Warrier, actor, flagged
off the service.The 24x7 cab service aims to address women’s safety issues,
empower them and promote entrepreneurship. Though the government still has a
long way to go to create a safe environment for women, this is a solid first
step that will be built on, Mr. Muneer said.
He
lauded the Gender Park for implementing the scheme on time, and added that
other activities being implemented by it, such as construction of a
women-friendly centre on 20 acres of land in Kozhikode, would be launched in
2014.The Minister agreed with Sabriye Tenberken, founder of Kanthari
International, who was one of the guests, that in time, it must be possible to
evolve into a “We Taxi” service that did not require segregation of this sort
as a prerequisite for safety. Posts on a social networking site about the
scheme had prompted people from across the country to suggest that it be
replicated all over, Ms. Tenberken said.Mr. Muneer officially declared Ms.
Warrier as the goodwill ambassador of the programme. Transport Commissioner
Rishiraj Singh launched the website and logo of the “Shetaxi” service.
K.
Muraleedharan, MLA, inaugurated the call centre by placing the first call.
Gender Park officials said that they had applied for the toll-free number 543
for calling the service.P.T.M. Suresh, Special Officer of Gender Park; Mayor K.
Chandrika; V.N. Jithendra, Social Justice Department Director; Sindhuja Varma,
vice-president of eWIT at Technopark; Abhilash Pillai, chief executive officer
of Rain Concert Technologies, which is managing the fleet and safety equipment;
and Ram Suresh Akella, Head, Commercial Business, South, Maruti Suzuki India
Ltd; were present.
Prof. John Kurakar
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