Metro can’t change Delhi men

He seems quite comfortable in the 'reserved' company of girls.

THANKS to the sad demise of chivalry, Delhi Metro has reserved seats for women. But now, insolence has replaced chivalry. Women have to point out to men that they are occupying seats reserved for women. The experience, said most female commuters, was not much different from buses. That’s what one could see on Tuesday —the second day of seat reservation for women. Many women had to force gentlemen to vacate the seats that were reserved for them. “The gentry in Delhi can never improve. Despite the fact that these seats are reserved for us, they give us such dirty looks when asked to vacate them,” said Sadhna Garg, who had boarded the metro from Kashmere Gate to go to Rajiv Chowk. While earlier men would offer their seats to women, now many of them become hard of hearing when asked to get up. There have been incidents when men refused to budge when told to make way for awoman. To avoid the humiliation that ensues, many women withdraw from exercising their right. “Imust have told this gentleman at least thrice to move but he looked away as if he didn’t hear. What do you do with such people?” said Monali Sen, an engineering student travelling on the Dwarka route. Many are still unaware of the decision to reserve seats for women in the metro. An octogenarian was forced to stand next to aseat reserved “for the old or physically challenged” while a20- something remained seated. So how successful will women be in availing of this new benefit remains to be seen.