Over 50 lakh people travel on BMTC buses every day, with women passengers comprising about half this number. Certain provisions, like reserved seats on buses, exist to keep female commuters safe but in reality, women being groped or manhandled on public transport is an everyday affair. In 2016-17, the central government allocated over Rs 33 crores to BMTC as part of the ‘Nirbhaya Fund’, to ensure safety. However, BMTC has utilised only Rs 2.37 crores so far. Lounges for women passengers, CCTVs in vehicles, a panic button and an app have been talked about but remain a work in progress, reports M.K. Ashoka
In March 2019, a 46-year-old woman boarded a bus from K.R. Puram to Majestic. She sat in one of the seats that had been reserved for women but still, a passenger sitting behind her touched her inappropriately. When she objected, he manhandled her further. She alerted the driver, conductor and fellow commuters. Nobody came to her aid.
Incident 2: A 23-year-old architect was travelling on board a BMTC bus from Majestic to Vidyaranyapura. She sat in one of the women's seats. A man touched her inappropriately on her back, causing her to raise the alarm. However, the accused flatly denied her claim. The incident was reported in February this year.
The central government had released handsome amounts of funding to ensure the safety and security of women passengers in BMTC. This amount, which had been granted under the name Nirbhaya Fund, was a Rs 33.64 crore allocation in 2016-17. BMTC has utilised only Rs 2.37 crores. The remainder lay unused, with the BMTC, as lakhs of women who use the bus service everyday put up with incidents like the ones detailed above.
The matter has been brought to light by RTI activist Yogesh Gowda, who lodged a complaint with the MD's office in Shanthinagar. The complaint stated that the Nirbhaya fund has not been utilised, with the complainant saying he had obtained official information from BMTC as of Sept 16, 2019. Gowda urged the department to conduct an inquiry into the negligence and initiate action against those responsible for it. It has been said that the imposition of hefty traffic fines, with driving under the influence now likely to set the offender back by Rs 10,000, has led to an sudden influx of inebriated people on BMTC buses.
Women who travel after 8 pm find the commute very difficult, for they now have to put up with the pranks and harassment of drunkards. Some conductors and drivers who are brave enough are now stopping vehicles near police stations to deal with the drunks. However, the majority of them are unable to do this as they have trip targets and shifts.
Everyone remembers the horrific Delhi gangrape. The whole objective is to prevent another incident like that in the major cities. BMTC night bus services exist but these vehicles don't have CCTVs on board, apart from the Volvo vehicles. There are also no lounges for women travelling late at night either. Very few security guards have been deployed in Majestic," explains Yogesh Gowda.
Anupam Agarwal, Director, Security & Vigilance, BMTC, says "lot is being done" to ensure the safety and security of female passengers. "Training sessions are undertaken and gender sensitisation programmes are being organised for BMTC staff," he said. As for the utilisation of Nirbhaya funds, Mr Agarwal says the funds are being used properly - "Tender process is on for CCTVs and Pink Sarathy vehicles were introduced by the previous CM," he says.
"Actually, we wanted ladies-only Pink buses. However, we fell short in terms of the number of female passengers who would avail the service, so the proposal was rejected six months after it was sent. Work is in progress with regard to the helplines, lounges and CCTVs. The previous proposal had earmarked Rs 20 to Rs 22 crore for one major app programme. We wanted more CCTVs with better specifications, though," Mr Agarwal explains.
It remains to be seen how BMTC plans to ensure security and safety of about 20 lakh women, college students and working ladies who travel in its buses.
