The Hindu Business Line : No entry for men here!

The recently introduced women-only metro and intra-city train coaches in Rio de Janeiro have literally become the talk of the town. The special coaches were launched by the woman governor of the State of Rio, Rosinha Garotinho, to prevent women passengers from being sexually harassed in crowded carriages.

According to a recent law, the city's metro and intra-city trains must have separate passenger cars for women during rush hours on weekdays. This new law, passed in March this year, has sharply divided the public.

"Women are often harassed and abused in crowded passenger cars. Many men take advantage in crowded coaches, causing trauma and stress to the women," says Congressman Jorge Picciani, President of the Rio de Janeiro Legislative Assembly and author of the law. In a survey of 2,288 readers of the online version of O'Globo (the main newspaper of the State of Rio), 63.85 per cent approved of the new law and believed that the measure would help stop abuse of and disrespect towards women.

What women say

Interestingly, some women disagree with the survey results. "I don't see the necessity of such a law. I have never suffered any type of harassment in the metro," says Graziela da Costa, 21, a saleswoman. "I think it's all nonsense," says Eliete Fernandes, 50, while admitting that she rarely takes the metro during rush hours.

Elisângela Gomes da Costa, 36, who works as a cleaner, says, "There are a lot of men in the passenger cars who try to grope us. Several almost trample on women while entering the coach, just to ensure they get a seat. Many women don't complain because they are afraid the men will slap them."

Even feminists differ on the issue. For Denise Viola, 41, Coordinator of Radio FalaMulher (literally, Women Speak Up), the law doesn't tackle the real problem of harassment. "We have to work on educational issues that will promote respect for women in trains, buses and subways. The measure is palliative." Besides, she says, the law will be difficult to implement in the absence of an educational campaign.

But Congresswoman Heloneida Studart, known for her aggressive views, defends the new law. "I was also a victim of harassment in trains when I was young. This is why I think the law is important."

Teething trouble

The underground metro, with 33 trains, caters to 5 lakh people daily. Almost 50 per cent of the passengers are women. The regular local trains — 150 of them — transport four lakh passengers every day. While the metro circulates only within the city of Rio, used mostly by the better-off, educated citizens, the trains connect 11 cities with Rio city with the poor and not-so-educated as its prime users.

"I welcome this initiative. I have witnessed many fights, discussions between men and women in passenger cars due to abuses and other unwanted sexual advances," says saleswoman Ednéia Vieira Martins, 49, resident of the city of Nilópolis, in the Baixada Fluminense, one of the poorest and most violent areas of the State.

Teething troubles have begun already. The Railroad Company Supervia and Metro Rio, supported by the State, were given 30 days to adjust their passenger cars to the new rule. Non-compliance would result in a fine. The law also makes it obligatory for the two companies to mark the women-only coaches.

Although the two companies declared that they would make special announcements about the separate coaches, and that security guards would guide the passengers, none of this was implemented on the day the scheme was introduced. The rail company marked its women-only coaches with signs used for women's restrooms. The Metro Rio marked its cars with pink stripes on doors and windows. On the first day, the men just did not bother with the signs, and kept using all the passenger cars.

Congressman Picciani, the author of the law, visited the Central do Brasil, the main metro station, on the first day to check if the new rule was being implemented. He returned disappointed.

"The two companies receive concessions from the State, they ought to enforce the law. We will work together to guarantee that the law is implemented. People are not used to the idea yet," he said. Many men have welcomed the idea, but others disregard it. "It's a very nice rule but I don't see people respecting it. Men invaded the exclusive cars," said office assistant Verônica Nascimento, 28, describing the first day of the scheme.

Computer analyst Adney Costa Nascimento, one of the passengers who stayed away from the reserved carriages, believes a lot more needs to be done. "The coaches must have security guards. I've seen men bother women even in empty passenger cars. Many women don't retaliate out of fear."

Women's Feature Service