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| Female passengers face harassment in Kashmir public transport | | Transport authorities numb over 'women only' seats | |
Majid Ahmad
Srinagar, Feb 21: At a time when safety and security of women has become a national issue, the instances of harassment of females in public transport have become a routine in Kashmir with authorities in deep slumber. The seats reserved for women are often occupied by the men and it seems authorities are least bothered about the plight of women folk in the buses.
The most sufferers on this account are female students and working ladies who have to travel during peak hours.
"The daily humiliation we go through during commuting affects our studies. The buses are so over crowded that there isn't space even to breathe and the authorities are watching as mere spectators. Seats reserved for ladies are always occupied by the male passengers," Rahila, a student of Women College, told Early Times.
She complained that most of the times male passengers ogle, pass vulgar comments, pinch and nudge in overcrowded buses. "I have no option but to remain silent. Travelling in public transport has become a harrowing experience for me," Rahila rued.
Despite the increase in the number of women in labour force and enrolment in educational and technical training centers over the last few years, safe means of transportation to facilitate their mobility has neither increased nor improved.
Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, a social activist said that bus travel in Kashmir has become a nerve-wracking experience for all. "But for women it is a nightmarish experience. Although some years back High Court had passed some drastic measures to streamline the traffic flow in Kashmir, it would have been nice if HC would have directed the authorities to enforce the law for reservation of seats for females in the buses," he said.
Reminiscing the old days Bhat said that few decades back nobody would have occupied ladies seat in the buses.
An officer bearer of Western Motor Transport Company (WMTC) said drivers and conductors can't force the passengers to leave the seats reserved for ladies. "Traffic authorities can make special checking squads to enforce the law. When they can check licenses, documents and overloading, why can't they do it?" he asked.
However, he stressed that public awareness could also plan an important role. "There is need of awareness. Everybody has to play a role in it."
An official of Regional Transport Office Kashmir said that they check the vehicle whether seats have been reserved for women and handicapped before issuing fitness certificate.
"According to a circular issued by Transport Commissioner in 1998, seat numbers 1 to 7 are mandatory to be reserved for the ladies and handicapped. But it's Traffic Police's job to implement the order," he said.
However, Traffic Police authorities have a different view over the issue. "If female passengers will come with a complaint, we will take action against the driver. But so far nobody has come up with such a complaint," a senior Traffic Police officer said.
He said that public awareness was necessary to educate the people about the issue. "There is something called moral obligations and male passengers should vacate the seats meant for ladies.
Humanly it isn't possible for us to check all the buses. Public, transporters, media all have to play role in it. Traffic Police alone can't do it," he added. |
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