‘No women only men can board’; private bus employees settle scores with Priyadarshini, complaint filed

KASARGOD: A complaint has been filed after employees of a private bus insulted women passengers, who tried to board the bus after the break down of KSRTC bus midway. The complaint alleged gender discrimination and other misconduct. A complaint has been filed with the Motor Vehicles Department and other authorities against the employees of a private bus operating between Kasaragod and Kuttikkol via Erinjippuzha.

The KSRTC bus, carrying around 80 passengers, broke down near the Kanathoor bus stop the other day. Women and school students were among those travelling on the bus. When the passengers attempted to board the private bus that arrived shortly afterwards, the employees behaved rudely towards them. The employees told publicly that women would not be allowed to board and that only men could get on the bus.

Passengers complained that the employees are openly showing animosity due to resentment over women traveling for free under the Priyadarshini scheme. A complaint was submitted to the RTO seeking strict action against the employees for openly displaying gender discrimination in public transport and operating the service in a manner that allegedly endangered passengers’ safety. Action has also been sought against the bus owner for violating permit conditions.