13 JAN 2017: Women who travel alone within India are being given more choices to ensure their safety. The country has introduced women-only trains and women-only cab service. Now Air India is reserving seats specifically for women travelling alone, at no extra charge and they may be the first known airline to do so.

Air India has recently announced, “We will be reserving the third row – six seats – in the economy class of the aircraft for female passengers travelling alone. As national carriers, it is our responsibility to enhance comfort level to female passengers. There are a lot of women who travel alone with us and we will be blocking a few seats for them.”

India has a number of women-only trains in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, decorated in bright colours. When the trains stop, male inspectors direct men away from the carriage doors. Those who don’t comply must pay a fine and go to a police station.

In 2010 a group of male commuters got on the women-only carriages and were greeted with anger from the female passengers who travel in those quarters to be safe from sexual harassment. The men were ordered by the women to do sit-ups as punishment for the violation. And they did.