Bhubaneswar: Transport commissioner Amitabh Thakur on Saturday assured at the launch of the TOI Citizen Reporter platform that bus operators will be instructed to end the practice of preventing women as the first passenger in all public buses. He said the move will be made mandatory.
Public buses, whether city or long-distance, still don’t allow a woman as the first passenger because of certain myths.
Rights activist Ghasiram Panda had moved the Odisha State Commission for Women (OSCW) raising the issue, following which the OSCW directed the transport department to allow women as first passengers at the boarding point if a woman wants.
“I announce that all buses will have the awareness message put up so that owners instruct the staff not to resort to such discriminatory practices. This is a genuine issue, and it must be implemented across the state’s public transport system,” Thakur said.
Panda, who was present in the audience, wanted the transport commissioner to respond to his query that whether the discrimination against women in buses will end and whether the department will come up with certain strictures on buses for its implementation.
“It is really distressing that gender bias exists in buses. So far, no action was taken in this regard on the part of the transport department. Earlier, instructions in writing were issued to the regional offices. I am happy to hear from the transport commissioner that the instruction board in buses will be put up,” Panda said.
OSCW’s letter to the transport department read, “I am to intimate you that this type of incident came to the knowledge of the commission in the past. So, in order to avoid future inconvenience to women passengers and to protect their safety and dignity, I would like to request you to ensure that the buses (both govt and private) allow women as the first passenger. An early action with intimation to OSCW is solicited.”
Thakur appreciated the TOI Citizen Reporter platform as an innovation to help people register their issues and get them addressed by authorities.