Delhi CM Atishi writes to LG for reappointment of bus commissioners for women safety – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Sunday wrote a letter to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, in which he reappointment of marshals on the city buses to ensure the safety of women commuters. The Chief Minister highlighted the crucial role that marshals have played in making public transport in Delhi safer for women, especially in light of the frequent harassment and insecurity that women previously faced during bus travel.
“Before the marshals were deployed, it was a struggle every day for women traveling on buses. Many feared for their safety and many women were harassed or harassed. The presence of more than 10,000 marshals on buses changed that,” Atishi wrote in the letter to Saxena.
The letter claimed that the marshals, deployed by the Delhi government, played an important role in rounding up miscreants and preventing cases of molestation and intimidation. However, on October 31, 2023, in what the Prime Minister described as part of a “conspiracy”, they were abruptly removed from their positions and their salaries stopped.
Atishi also accused certain officials of the Delhi government of acting at the behest of the Center to undermine security measures.
These officers, she said, not only enjoyed impunity, but were also promoted to higher positions.
She expressed regret over the delay in approving the proposal to reappoint the marshals, noting that more than two weeks have passed since the Delhi government submitted its proposal for their reappointment.
“The entire government, the families of these marshals and the women of Delhi are waiting for your approval,” Atishi said.
The reappointment proposal, which was unanimously adopted by Delhi ministers on November 12, aims to return marshals to their crucial role on buses to strengthen women’s safety, the letter said.
“By removing these marshals, you have not only taken away their livelihood, but you have also weakened their shield women’s safetythe report said, adding that the decision has eroded the trust women had gained in public transport.
The fate of the 10,000 marshals and the future of women’s safety in Delhi now depend on the LG’s timely approval of the proposal, the chief minister said.