Patna: Twenty-seven per cent of women in Bihar are dropping out of education or leaving jobs because of inadequate transport, high commuting costs and safety concerns, according to a joint study by the Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC) and MicroSave Consulting (MSC).
The study, conducted between February and June among a random sample of around 500,000 women from urban and rural areas, found that women spend Rs 18,800 more annually on commuting than men.
The higher expenditure is linked to women’s greater reliance on private vehicles, taxis and reserved auto-rickshaws, particularly when they consider public transport unsafe or unavailable.
Women Travel Less Than Men
Women’s overall mobility in Bihar is 37% lower than men’s, according to the report. Around 82% of women’s trips are linked to work and daily responsibilities, including household chores, shopping, taking children to school and social visits.
The study found that inadequate transport and high fares are particularly significant barriers for rural women seeking higher education.
Travel between cities and rural areas is also expensive, while limited transport options restrict women’s ability to access education and employment opportunities.
Safety Concerns Remain
The report found that harassment remains a major concern for women using public transport. According to the study, one in four men harasses women in some form during their commute.
Women in Muzaffarpur reported greater discomfort and safety-related concerns compared with several other areas covered by the study.
The findings also point to social barriers to women’s participation in the transport sector. Driving autos and taxis is still not widely accepted for women, making it difficult to recruit female drivers for services such as the Pink Bus.
Pink Bus Service Offers Some Relief
The study found that women feel safer in Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Purnia and Darbhanga, where the Pink Bus service has been introduced.
Lower fares on the service also reduce the additional financial burden on women. The report said the fear of travelling had been reduced for 5% of women in these six cities.
Priyanka Pandey was recruited as a Pink Bus driver in June, while five other women have been trained to drive buses, according to the report.
Researcher Sonal Jaitly said inadequate transport, high fares and safety concerns remain major barriers for women.
“While the situation has improved in areas where the Pink Bus service operates, 27 percent of women are still forced to drop out of education or quit their jobs due to safety concerns and high fares,” Jaitly said.
Men Also Affected By Transport Costs
The study found that transport-related barriers also affect men, although at a lower rate.
Around 14% of men in Bihar are forced to drop out of education because of high fares and inadequate transport facilities, according to the report.
The findings highlight the role of affordable, accessible and safer public transport in improving access to education and employment across Bihar.
