New Delhi, July 11 -- An industry-think tank coalition on Friday urged the ministry of housing and urban Affairs (MoHUA) to launch a dedicated programme under the PM e-Bus Sewa scheme to train and recruit women as electric bus drivers, saying it could help bridge the sector's growing workforce shortage while creating tens of thousands of jobs for women.

The report identifies licensing requirements as a key barrier, noting that depending on state regulations, new entrants can take between 16 and 44 months to qualify as public bus drivers. It also recommends revising eligibility norms, incorporating women's employment targets in public procurement for urban bus services, and improving gender-sensitive infrastructure and workplace policies ...