TURA, Aug 11: The FKJGP in Garo Hills has registered a strong protest with West Garo Hills DC Swapnil Tembe against the hostile attitude of those operating commercial vehicles who refuse to carry them because many students are unable to afford the fares.
“Tura stands out as the educational hub of all of Garo Hills and many parents from and outside of Tura, sends their children to study in Tura despite all financial limitations in the hope of securing quality education for their progeny. Some of these students stay in rented houses whereas, some commute daily from their own houses (some of which are situated up-to 30 kms from Tura) in commercial buses which are popularly known as “line bus”.
Of recent, we have received complaints from different sections of society alleging that these commercial/line buses have become increasingly reluctant to allow these students to board their buses. We suspect (as suggested by many) that the reason for such behaviour may be the fact that these students cannot pay the standard bus fares that an individual has to pay the buses for their service, said the FKJGP.
“We understand that in terms of business, these students may leave a little dent on the pockets of the bus services owners however we would like to appeal these bus owners and the travel agencies through your appellation to consider the students as exceptions, as they are the future of our society. We also would like to point out that students concession is granted by the Indian Govt. for every student in availing certain facilities, be it for railway tickets, for rent in Govt. run guest houses etc. and we would like to request you to extend these concessions for local/line bus fares as well,” urged the FKJGP.
In a shocker, the FKJGP higjlighted that due to the attitude of the line bus drivers and conductors, there have been cases of students going on foot from Tura to Mukdangra areas even after sunset because none of the line buses stopped for the students even after being signaled to stop at the proper bus stands, and despite these buses having sufficient space to accommodate the students.
“It is needless to say that these affected students are not of a single gender and both boys and girls are affected by these circumstances. We are concerned especially for the female students who are more vulnerable, for their safety in such hostile situations. We also pray you to consider this matter as of high priority and address it at the earliest to avert any untoward incidents,” appealed Rohit R. Marak and Tengsmart M. Sangma, Addl. General Secretary and Asst. General Secretary of FKJGP, Garo Hills Zone.
