Another fare hike
Melba Mergulhão-Carvalho Antão..
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Señhor João and Atmarambab are old friends and liberation veterans. They may not agree on some issues but they staunchly love sobit Goem and all things Goan; its tradition and culture, which according to them, is slowly eroding. The old-timers discussed, sometimes vociferously, everything under the sun on Señhor João’s balcão as a golden twilight enveloped them while they sipped a glass or two of country feni ~ in short, the ‘cup that cheers,’ followed by dinner and a good night’s rest. But, today they were bugged by the impending bus fare hike.
SJ: What’s with these private bus operators, Atmarambab? There is to be a hike of Rs 8 as base-fare for the first three kilometres! AB: Yes, the All Goa Private Bus Owners’ Association (AGPBOA) has the public and government in a knot between ‘either no diesel VAT, or increased fares’. My nathi Shobha will really feel the pinch. Since my cholo Vikram can’t shell out more money for transportation, she’ll have to stretch her pocket money to cover the latest rate hike which is huge when travelling to college everyday from Margao to Panjim and back! SJ: How much more can we spend on transport? And look at the state of the bus ~ they’re more antique than the blue porcelain vase I picked up at Bombay’s Chor Bazaar in the 1960s! The government wants 15-year-old buses off the roads. But who obeys rules anymore? AB: You know, the other day Shambab was narrating how his trouser ripped on a protruding nail on the exit door. Shameful, I say!
SJ: Look at the rickety packed buses that risk the lives of the young and old. In fact, with every rate increase, the buses are more packed than ever. Our transport department must strictly specify the number of standing passengers allowed like BEST does in Bombay, don’t you think Atmarambab? AB: I must admit, the transport department forced the AGPBOA and KTC to reserve eight seats exclusively for women with a hefty fine on violators! A laudable gesture after the ghastly gang rape of the paramedical student in Delhi. I told my nathi to make a dash for the ‘women only’ seats because these days, bus travel is dangerous.
SJ: Yes, especially during peak hours. I went to collect my veteran’s pension last month and arre saiba, there were two men ~ Goans at that! ~ blatantly occupying seats reserved for women. In spite of the dirty stares from the ladies, the guys would not budge ~ not even after I pointed the ‘women only’ sign to them. I wanted to call the conductor but he was too busy ticketing! AB: But why did the ladies not speak up? Silence means acceptance or encouraging wrong. Women must stand up for their rights with courage and co-passengers will second them. I advised my nathi not to be silent about wrongdoings; rather stand up for your rights like Jhansi ki rani and Kiran Bedi! The days of being coy are over, besides she’ll be paying double the fare shortly, kitem mhunttai re Señhor João ! We fought the Portuguese what, and our tornatte can’t even…….?
