TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Concerned about safety of women in public transport, Goa State Commission for Women have directed the Directorate of Transport to make necessary efforts to install CCTV cameras in all private and KTC buses.
In a series of guidelines, issued to the Directorate of Transport, the Commission asked to ensure that seats reserved for women are used by women only, failing which appropriate action would be initiated.
The commission has also directed the department to ensure that all bus drivers, conductors and cleaners be issued proper photo identity cards with their name, address, cell number, name and address and cell phone number of the bus owner and cell number and the bus registration number. The said ID should be signed by RTO and police.
“The Commission has taken a serious note of molestation, eve teasing, and outraging modesty of women and more particularly of girl students in public transport and on several occasion employees of the buses themselves are involved in such incidents,” Commission Chairperson Ezilda Sapeco said.
The guidelines also suggest that important telephone number such as those of police – 100, women helpline – 1091 and the phone number of local police station should be displayed on the bus notice board. The Commission has said that drivers be informed that whenever any incidents occurs in the bus against any girl or women passenger, the bus should be taken to the nearest police station.
Periodical checks by RTO and police officials on drivers, conductors and cleaners are also required. “The guidelines should be enforced immediately and in case of failure to do so, the transport department will be held responsible,” Sapeco said.
