Reshma Ravishanker
Ten days after the Shakti scheme allowing free bus travel for women was launched by the congress government in Karnataka, child rights activists have voiced several concerns.
From overcrowded buses dissuading children from boarding them, unable to reach schools on time and unrestricted access leading to possible risks, their concerns loom.
For instance, in Bengaluru on Monday, two girls who were reprimanded by their father for buying chocolates on credit from a nearby shop, boarded a bus from Bengaluru and ran away to Dharmasthala and returned hours later. The girls told investigators later that they were aware of the Shakti Scheme launched by Siddaramaiah government that enables free transport across the state for all women.
With this in the backdrop, in a letter addressed to chief minister Siddaramaiah, child rights activist and director of Child Rights Trust, Nagasimha G Rao has said that this incident must serve as an eye opener to alert parents and the government.
He has sought that, while continuing the scheme, the government must ensure that certain preventive measures are taken. Among them, he recommends that all students carry a letter of approval for travel from parents and ensure that their mobile numbers are produced to the bus conductors at the time of travel.
“Section 26 of the United Nations Child Rights Convention recommendations mandate that the onus of child safety lies on the government as well. Even if they are slightly disappointed at home or at school, there is a risk of children attempting to run away to a distant place using this free travel scheme. Thus, they could be endangering their lives or putting themselves at unforeseen risk,” he expressed.
Meanwhile, S Manju, an advocate and member of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights expressed concerns about overcrowding in buses that put children at risk.
“Recently a girl child fell and died after being forced to travel on the footboard of a bus. We are hearing from children in rural areas that they are unable to reach schools on time as they can’t board the bus. Women in rural areas are using the free bus travel facility to throng places of worship leaving no room for children to board.
“This initiative of the government is welcome, but pros and cons need to be evaluated. Children are most affected. It is unfortunate that while this comes as a boon to many, the rights of children are violated,” she said.
However, she refused to draw a correlation between children running away and had much to do with the scheme. “Such incidents happened even when tickets had to be paid for. Counselling children is the way out,” Manju said.
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