Bengaluru Launches New Initiative to Ensure Gender-Inclusive Mobility

13 Aug, 2024

MobiliseHER initiative launched to improve mobility infrastructure and services in the city

Bengaluru, August 13, 2024: WRI India launched the ‘MobiliseHER’ initiative today to catalyse the development of gender-responsive mobility systems in the city. The Bengaluru MobiliseHER initiative was launched at a convening held at Vikasa Soudha organized by the Urban Development Department, Government of Karnataka, and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in collaboration with the European Union and WRI India. MobiliseHER, a consortium project, will be implemented in three Indian cities of Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Kochi.

Using data as a tool, MobiliseHER aims to raise awareness about gendered differences in mobility patterns and identify gender gaps in existing mobility infrastructure and services. The initiative will involve working closely with civil society organizations and government authorities to build capacity and support the adoption, implementation and institutionalization of gender-responsive mobility solutions.

Encouraging all stakeholders to streamline action towards making the city more inclusive, Shri. Umashankar SR (IAS) Additional Chief Secretary, UDD, GoK and Administrator, BBMP said, "The population in Bengaluru has increased by 50% over the last decade, and this growth has created challenges in making this city more inclusive and equitable. We need a collective effort from all stakeholders to make MobiliseHER more participative. I hope this initiative will generate practical solutions that can benefit the administration and create a more inclusive city."

Home to over 14 million people, Bengaluru is a significant contributor to Karnataka’s GDP and is the fourth largest technology cluster in the world. The transport sector is a key driver of this economic growth, and access to transport impacts education, healthcare and livelihood opportunities. With a female workforce participation rate of just 24% in 2024, recognizing diverse mobility needs and fostering accessibility for all genders and communities is key to equitable growth.

Speaking about the importance of developing gender responsive mobility systems, Shri. N.V. Prasad (IAS), Secretary to Government, Transport Department said, "Empowering women to travel, through initiatives like the Shakti scheme, is a critical step toward their overall empowerment, and our goal is to increase modal share to ensure women have the freedom to travel for both work and leisure."

Other ongoing initiatives in the city, focused on shaping climate resilience and livability, were also highlighted at the event, such as the Bengaluru Climate Action Plan and the Nurturing Neighbourhoods Challenge. Discussions revolved around how to secure funding for Adaptation and Resilience (A&R) projects – by training city officials, developing supportive decision-making tools, and creating a robust pipeline of investible projects and connecting them with potential funders. Focusing on the needs of young children and caregivers towards developing care integrated infrastructure at a neighbourhood level and enhancing access to essential caregiving related facilities were also underscored for building a resilient and equitable urban environment in Bengaluru.

Shri. Tushar Giri Nath (IAS), Chief Commissioner, BBMP, said, “Bengaluru is growing rapidly, and resilient cities and nurturing neighborhoods must go hand in hand to tackle climate change effectively. The MobiliseHER initiative will be crucial in ensuring that we enhance mobility for all, particularly for women. A city that prioritizes safety and inclusivity for women ultimately becomes safer for everyone.‘’

Ms. Claudia López Hernández, Former Mayor of Bogotá, Harvard 2024 ALI Fellow and Advisor to WRI said, ‘’The prospects for development in the Global South are deeply intertwined with the empowerment of women. Inclusion is key—it's a marathon, not a sprint. We must prioritize the well-being of women and marginalized populations. Beyond mass transit networks, we need to provide care centers and training opportunities that recognize and support unpaid care work. The lessons we've learned in Bogota could be critical in Bengaluru's journey, helping India achieve its full potential on the global stage.”

Shri. Pawan Mulukutla, Executive Director - Integrated Transport, Clean Air & Hydrogen, WRI India, said: "Making transport systems inclusive is the need of the hour. Women constitute nearly half of India's population, and 90% of caregiving is done by women, which deeply influences mobility patterns. The MobiliseHER initiative aims to address this by incorporating a gender lens into transport planning and governance through participatory approaches."

Media contacts
Tanushree Venkatraman
tanushree.venkatraman@wri.org
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About MobiliseHER: MobiliseHER aims to enable gender responsive mobility in cities, prioritizing safety, accessibility and inclusivity in the planning and development of mobility infrastructure. The initiative is funded by the European Union and undertaken in partnership with the Urban Electric Mobility Initiative (UEMI), Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA), CEPT Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) and WRI India.

About WRI India: India Resources Trust, an independent charity referred to as "WRI India", provides objective information and practical proposals to foster environmentally sound and socially equitable development. Our work focuses on building sustainable and livable cities and working towards a low carbon economy. Through research, analysis, and recommendations, WRI India puts ideas into action to build transformative solutions to protect the earth, promote livelihoods, and enhance human well-being. We are inspired by World Resources Institute (WRI), a global research organization. Know more: https://wri-india.org