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 It’s an era of women empowerment experiments, and Udupi is not lagging behind as the commuters in the city buses can see women conductors holding ticket racks and issuing tickets in the buses. In fact, those who have been always complaining about the rude behaviour of men may find a sigh of relief in the city buses.

Udupi City Bus Owners Association mooted the new idea and conducted their first experiment with the eves in the route of Udupi-Ambalpadi stretch. Around 12 women conductors trained in the first batch are put into service.

The concept of introducing women as conductors is not a new phenomenon in this region. Women have been serving as conductors in service buses for the past one year. However, women conductors in city buses are not a common scene.

The women entering the service of conductors in city buses may bring lots of changes. Commuters might have a smooth travel experience.

Though the Udupi City Bus Owners Association initiated the new idea a couple of months ago, the Association made an announcement of recruiting the women conductors in the city buses recently, following which there were plenty of applications. A majority of women, who applied for the post, were from Uttara Kannada district comprising areas like Karwar, Anklola and Bhatkal. A handful of them are from Kaup.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Udupi City Bus Owners Association President Kuyiladi Suresh Nayak said that the decision to recruit women conductors was taken in order to fulfill the acute shortage of conductors in city buses. There is a good response from public also.

The aspirants were trained for two months as they had to get used to mount the running buses. This is a very difficult task.

Besides they were also trained for electronic ticketing. They are offered residential facilities with a salary of Rs 7,500. The Association will provide them uniform and also license, he added.

The minimum educational criterion was SSLC/PUC. Around 10 women have applied for the second batch. Nayak said Association has plans to take around 30 women conductors and train them in the coming days, he added.