Tamil Nadu free bus rides: Many women reject freebie and demand tickets
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Chennai: The DMK government in Tamil Nadu had announced free public bus rides for women in an effort to help women empowerment and independence. However, the scheme is facing challenges.
In the initial days, more women than ever used public transport, and 61% of passengers in the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation were women. The scheme garnered nationwide attention and appreciation.
However, several cases of bus drivers and conductors belittling women for travelling for free have been reported. Some even hinted that the freebie is being implemented at the expense of the staff. The hostility has led to women demanding tickets and rejecting the freebie scheme.
A domestic help in Tiruchi told IANS that bus conductors abused them using the "choicest expletives" and male passengers laughed at them. "Anyone who has a little self-respect would stop taking free rides. Initially, I did not want to reject it as it was saving me good money but later I decided not to travel for free and forcibly asked the conductor to accept money." She added that the fare was not accepted but she refused to travel without it.
After Tamil Nadu minister for higher education, K. Ponmudi at a public function spoke of the freebie scheme, people were angry over a video in which an elderly woman was seen arguing with a conductor over the same.
The minister said: "How are you going on the bus today? If you want to go from here to Koyambedu or anywhere you are going in OC (free)." The elderly woman was heard saying: "The minister is talking like that!!? Are we going in 'OC'? We don't want to go in 'OC'! We will travel by paying for the ticket. Prices of everything have risen and five rupees is not a big deal. Take the money and give me a ticket. We don't want to travel free."
The TNSTC has now reportedly issued oral instructions to conductors to collect the fares if women insist on paying.
"There is no provision to collect money and issue tickets to women passengers. But daily many women are now asking us to take the payment. If we don't take the money an argument breaks out. We have mentioned the matter to our department heads. They told us to collect the money and issue tickets if the women insist," said a conductor to IANS.