Gurgaon police to issue fresh guidelines to cab drivers

GURGAON - Alarmed by yet another gangrape of a call centre employee in Delhi a day ago, Gurgaon police Thursday said they plan to issue fresh guidelines to cab drivers ferrying women workers to ensure their safety.

“We have already given the guidelines regarding female workers’ security and will do it again. We have found that companies are not following the guidelines,” Gurgaon Police Commissioner S.S. Deswal said.

Police have also asked the BPOs to verify the antecedents of cab drivers. “If we find somebody involved in criminal activities, strict action will be taken against them,” said Deswal.

According to industry experts, more than one lakh employees work in 250 BPOs based in Gurgaon. Of these, about 40,000 are women.

“There are enough laws to prevent such incidents but the law should be implemented strictly. If we look at the past, the accused did not get proper punishment,” said Deepak Kapoor, a BPO industry expert.

Shakshi, a Gurgaon BPO employee who didn’t wish to name her company, said: “With a little care, we can prevent such incidents. I always make sure that the cab driver drops me in front of my home and someone from my home comes to pick me up.”

According to her, the basic problem was the lack of security. “The roads are not safe for girls in night,” she said.