[1]It must have been quite shocking for the public to read how a plus-one student was pushed off a city bus on Friday. The student fell backwards and badly hurt her ankle.
However, this incident is nothing new for youngsters who board city buses everyday to and from their educational institutions, as they are shabbily treated by bus operators over concession issues.
Kochi has three main colleges and numerous schools in the city, but the day-to-day incidents prove that students are facing a tough task travelling to their educational institutions.
Despite being an irksome issue since ages, the officials concerned are yet to take serious steps in making the bus trips hassle-free for students.
Bus operators and students have been at loggerheads ever since the concession system was introduced.
“The private buses usually do not halt at the college stops. They either stop a little ahead or farther away. Or they drive off quickly after dropping the passengers on board. We usually run to these buses and try to board them. But they always try to leave without taking us in,” says Rejeesh Vijayan, a student of the CCPLM School in Thevara.
Students are also being subjected to insults inside the bus. “Most of the conductors quiz us like the police. They argue and try not to give us concession even if we show them the concession cards. Some buses don’t allow us to take a seat. They say we are not entitled to a seat because we travel at concession rates,” says Divya Hariharan, a student of Ernakulam Girls’ High School.
However, private bus operators argue that they are always being targeted by the police. They now demand that the government extend concessions for students in KSRTC buses too.
Links:
[1] http://archive.asianage.com/bus1jpgcropdisplayjpg-332