Special training to deal with women tourists for Games

 "A woman is travelling in your taxi. Along the way, you stop and another man gets into the seat next to you. He is your friend. The customer objects. How will you respond?'' This is one of the many practical examples cited by a 200-page Gender Appropriate Behaviour Training Manual brought out by the Delhi Commission for Women that allows stakeholders in the Commonwealth Games to search for answers and solutions themselves as they undergo training that sensitises them to gender issues.

The target group includes policemen, hotel staff, tour operators, transporters, tourist guides, security personnel, volunteers, Bed & Breakfast service providers, media and healthcare personnel.

Interestingly, the manual breaks away from the usual practice of giving out a list of dos and don'ts or the various laws. Instead, it takes the practical route with real-time examples of situations that may arise when dealing with people, particularly tourists.

"Two women are waiting in the queue for a taxi at the airport. Some taxi drivers are trying to get their attention. Suddenly, one taxi driver grabs one of the women tourists by her elbow and starts pulling her towards his taxi. Nobody helps the woman. She is upset and calls for help. What will be your response as police personnel on duty keeping in mind the law of the land and code of conduct?''

Another example states, "A woman is standing on a bus stand. She is begging before two foreigners. The foreigners get irritated and push her away. She falls and starts crying. Some people gather and the situation becomes tense with the foreigners shouting and the woman crying even louder. How will you as a police officer deal with the situation in view of the laws and code of conduct?''

The chapter meant for owners of Bed & Breakfast establishments gives an example related to appropriate behaviour with guests. It elaborates on a situation where a couple from a foreign country stays at a B&B accommodation. But the host family discovers that they are not married. The elders of the host family disapprove of this and raise the issue in a manner that upsets the guests. The manual presents the situation before the group that is undergoing training so that they can look for answers and work out a solution.

Loaded with examples and put together as a practical training manual based on an interactive approach, the manual is being seen as a guide to appropriate gender behaviour both during and after the Games. DCW, chairperson, Barkha Singh feels that the issues related to gender are the responsibility of all the departments.

"Various departments conduct training programs for their staff members and we think that addressing gender concerns during the training is very important. The manual is hence designed to suit different training needs, schedules and participant groups,'' she emphasised. Expressing concerns over instances of people's indifference towards foreigners and local populace, Singh said training related to appropriate gender behaviour is actually the need of the hour.