Lady commuters in Goan buses face obscene moves by men on a regular basis. Overcrowding of buses is the main reason for abusive actions by the men travelling in these buses which include ogling, using abusive language, catcalls, eve-teasing, groping and even stalking.
The plight of the women traveling in buses is rarely highlighted and many women suffer in silence. The very fact that buses happen to be the main mode of transport from one city to another and from the villages to the cities make the women opt for travelling by bus on a regular basis and for working women, even on a daily basis.
Many working women have to take the last bus late into the evening to reach their homes after work. They could be travelling with fear in their hearts. The state owned Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) buses have some seats reserved for women only. This is not the case with all the private buses.
The bus conductor and the bus driver in both the KTC and private buses should see to it that no such vulgar incidents take place in their buses.
The police on their part needs to take prompt action whenever there is a complaint involving such incidents. Men could be emboldened to indulge in such abusive action with the thought that they cannot be apprehended in a moving bus and that they can get off the bus at any bus-stop if the lady victim makes a noise.
Men travelling in the buses should have the courtesy to offer their seat to a lady who is standing. However many a times this is not the case and at times even mothers carrying little children in their arms are seen standing in crowded buses.
With so many women travelling to work on a daily basis the government should introduce ‘ladies-only' buses on the main routes during peak hours as is the case in other states.
ADELMO FERNANDES,Vasco
The plight of the women traveling in buses is rarely highlighted and many women suffer in silence. The very fact that buses happen to be the main mode of transport from one city to another and from the villages to the cities make the women opt for travelling by bus on a regular basis and for working women, even on a daily basis.
Many working women have to take the last bus late into the evening to reach their homes after work. They could be travelling with fear in their hearts. The state owned Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) buses have some seats reserved for women only. This is not the case with all the private buses.
The bus conductor and the bus driver in both the KTC and private buses should see to it that no such vulgar incidents take place in their buses.
The police on their part needs to take prompt action whenever there is a complaint involving such incidents. Men could be emboldened to indulge in such abusive action with the thought that they cannot be apprehended in a moving bus and that they can get off the bus at any bus-stop if the lady victim makes a noise.
Men travelling in the buses should have the courtesy to offer their seat to a lady who is standing. However many a times this is not the case and at times even mothers carrying little children in their arms are seen standing in crowded buses.
With so many women travelling to work on a daily basis the government should introduce ‘ladies-only' buses on the main routes during peak hours as is the case in other states.
ADELMO FERNANDES,Vasco
