The Weekly
Observer Volume 14 | Issue 12
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
One woman every hour assaulted on a Bangalore bus, admits BMTC Soumya Chatterjee
A
lmost 500 women a month are assaulted on public buses, according to a new helpline. According to Bangalore Municipal Transport Corporation’s own statistics, 2,972 women were accosted on their buses in the first six months after the launch of the helpline. Shanta Das, BMTC Complaint Officer, said, “There has been a 28 % increase in eve teasing of
Vinod, BMTC conductor
women by conductors.” She added that no driver has been sacked but that five have been suspended. That means at least 25 women face harassment by staff every single day while using public transport. In a survey conducted last year by Bengaluru Bus Prayaanikara Vedike , a passenger forum, in 2012-13, of 2,647 women questioned in Bangalore, 1,803 cases of harassment in buses were reported. That means 69 per cent of the women reported being sexually harassed on buses. Vulgar language, staring pointedly, physical attacks such as touching, feeling, grabbing, indecently exposing, stalking, photography or shooting videos without consent were the major forms of harassment, according to the survey. The launch of this helpline in April may have
contributed to the spike, according to the BMTC. Most of the conductors harass women by inappropriate behaviour while collecting the fares, according to complaints received. Eve teasing is punishable under Section 298 (A) and (B) of Indian Penal Code which prescribes up to three months of imprisonment for making obscene gestures or remarks to a woman. Section 354 (IPC) is for those who use force or assault a woman to outrage her modesty. Shanta added, “Most women do not complain thinking it is trivial but since the Nirbhaya case, there has been a change in approach.” In a horrific incident on December 16 last year, a paramedic student Delhi was raped repeatedly and murdered by a group of men. She added: “We have a three-tier complaint response
Shanta Das, BMTC Complaint Officer system. The first step involves warning the alleged staff, followed by their suspension and then their termination from service. So far only one case that has come up to me and there has been no conviction. We can’t take actions on our own.” Mrinali Ghosh, a regular commuter, said, “Once I asked for change and the conductor passed lewd comments.” Neha Shankar, a CA student said, “Often when the buses are crowded, the conductors makes way through the ladies section, making us feel uncomfort-
able.” Govind, a conductor, said, “Not everybody is same. Sometimes things happen because of the crowd. I don’t do anything intentionally.” Jayaprakash L, Joint Chief Security and Vigilance officer at BMTC, said, “There have been two incidents where we have suspended five of our staff this year so far.” In March one driver and two supervisors were suspended and in May one driver and conductor were suspended for a minimum period of six months.
Underground workers remain hidden, afflicted by health issues Shruti Suresh Only 10 per cent of the people engaged in manual scavenging across the city are registered in government records. M. Venkatesh, State President of the Dalit Bahujan Movement said: “In Bangalore, there are around 2,000 people engaged in manual scavenging but only 202 have been registered by
the state government. Two months ago, we submitted a report with 100 additional names of people to be registered as manual scavengers but no action has been taken yet.” “Bodies like BBMP and BWSSB hire manual scavengers through contractors but they don’t take their responsibility. The reasons why a majority of them are not registered are because
A BBMP sweeper
they would have to rehabilitate them and enable schemes for their welfare,” added Venkatesh. The workers suffer from health issues like skin infections, asthma, kidney and liver problems, infertility, respiratory problems, reproductive tract infections, cardiac issues and blindness. Manimala, 33, who worked as a manual scavenger for 10 years, said: “I
have wheezing and thyroid. I faced liver damage, kidney failure, eye problems, Tuberculosis and jaundice due to the work I did.” Akhila Vasan, 44, an activist with the People’s Health Movement in Bangalore said: “Many of them depend on liquor for working. No person in his senses can work in such stink and garbage.” (Continued on page 3)