In a landmark decision, the Odisha State Commission for Women (OSCW) has urged the State Transport Department to ensure both government-run and private buses allow women to board as first passengers.
The directive came while hearing a petition by social worker, Ghasiram Panda from Sonepur who knocked on the Commission’s door after a woman was allegedly stopped from boarding a bus as a first passenger at Baramunda bus stand in Bhubaneswar.
Panda alleged that the conductor of the bus denied her to board citing the vehicle was empty and she could only step inside after a male passenger boards first. The conductor even allegedly said to the woman that there is a possibility of a mishap if he allows her to board first.
The Commission in its directive to the Transport department said, “This type of incident had come to the knowledge of the Commission in the past too. So in order to avoid future inconveniences to women passengers and to protect their safety and dignity, I would like to request you to ensure that the buses (both Government and Private) allow women as the first passenger. An early action with intimation to OSCW is solicited.”
The Commission further urged that the seats reserved for women passengers in a bus should be increased to 50 percent.