‘Will stop practice of not allowing women to board buses first’ | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: General secretary of All Odisha Bus Owners’ Association, Debendra Kumar Sahoo, announced here on Wednesday that it will crack down on the practice of not allowing women as first passengers on buses.
The association’s decision comes a day after transport officials went out on the streets to ensure the discriminatory practice is stopped following transport commissioner Amitabh Thakur‘s assurance during the launch of TOI’s Citizen Reporter initiative on Saturday.
“Three years ago, a bus conductor asked a woman passenger to wait for some time to board the bus as he was conducting puja. The incident was blown out of proportion then. People alleged that the bus did not allow the woman to board first. I have not come across any similar case during the last three years,” said Sahoo.
He further said, “If any bus staff practices such a thing now, we will stop it. We have talked to bus owners to look into the issue.”
A bus conductor at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bus Terminal (BSABT) at Baramunda here on Wednesday said they allow a male passenger to board the bus first instead of a woman. “There is a belief that business will not be good if we allow a woman passenger first. That’s why we follow the practice,” he added.
Another bus conductor echoed him. “We don’t disclose the reason for allowing a male apssenger to board the bus first. The govt cannot check all buses every day to ensure women board them first,” he added.
Some educated and sensitive bus staff refrained from the practice. “If we see women as reincarnation of Maa Laxmi, why should there be discrimination against them in buses? I don’t believe in the practice,” said Bhagirathi Behera, another bus conductor.
Sumitra Moharana, a regular commuter, said, “I have heard from many co-passengers that bus staff follow such discriminatory practices. I think it should be stopped now. We are in the 21st century, and women are doing wonders in all fields.”
The association’s decision comes a day after transport officials went out on the streets to ensure the discriminatory practice is stopped following transport commissioner Amitabh Thakur‘s assurance during the launch of TOI’s Citizen Reporter initiative on Saturday.
“Three years ago, a bus conductor asked a woman passenger to wait for some time to board the bus as he was conducting puja. The incident was blown out of proportion then. People alleged that the bus did not allow the woman to board first. I have not come across any similar case during the last three years,” said Sahoo.
He further said, “If any bus staff practices such a thing now, we will stop it. We have talked to bus owners to look into the issue.”
A bus conductor at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bus Terminal (BSABT) at Baramunda here on Wednesday said they allow a male passenger to board the bus first instead of a woman. “There is a belief that business will not be good if we allow a woman passenger first. That’s why we follow the practice,” he added.
Another bus conductor echoed him. “We don’t disclose the reason for allowing a male apssenger to board the bus first. The govt cannot check all buses every day to ensure women board them first,” he added.
Some educated and sensitive bus staff refrained from the practice. “If we see women as reincarnation of Maa Laxmi, why should there be discrimination against them in buses? I don’t believe in the practice,” said Bhagirathi Behera, another bus conductor.
Sumitra Moharana, a regular commuter, said, “I have heard from many co-passengers that bus staff follow such discriminatory practices. I think it should be stopped now. We are in the 21st century, and women are doing wonders in all fields.”
