Kochi: It is perhaps the only sector where the service provider is asked to dole out concessions to customers without any external financial aid from the government.
Students' concessions are taken for granted even when there is no such provision for the purchase of study materials or uniforms. While the demand of private bus operators to increase the minimum fare to Rs 10 is hard to accept, many feel that a hike in student concessions is justifiable.
“It’s an issue to be resolved though discussion though we will oppose a further hike in bus charges tooth and nail. Ideally, the government should compensate the bus operators for the concessions they allot to students. But it’s too much to ask for the time being, given the current financial crisis faced by the state,” said Titto Antony, KSU Ernakulam District President.
Even the Students' Federation of India (SFI) leadership plans to hold discussions with the government on the matter rather than blindly oppose the demand for a hike in student concessions.
“We’ll not allow a raise in bus charges but our state committee leadership will hold a meet with the government representatives about student concessions in a day or two when we’ll finalise our stance then,” said SFI District Secretary Muhammed Fazal.
Currently, students can travel in buses by paying Rs 1 though the minimum bus fare is Rs 6. Private buses form nearly 14, 000 of the total 19, 000 public transport vehicles in the state.
“As much as 40 per cent of the commuters travelling in private buses operating in the city consists of students. When five students travel in a bus with their bags, we lose double the normal passengers since they pay only one-sixth of the original fare,” said Lawrence Babu, General Secretary of the Kerala State Private Bus Operators Federation.
Even the Justice Ramachandran Nair Fare Revision Committee has recommended hiking the minimum concession charge for students to Rs 2 and for subsequent travel, 25 per cent of the revised fares.
“In the last 15 months, the diesel cost was hiked over 12 times, resulting in an overall increase of Rs 10 per litre. We’re not against students' concessions. But then the government should take steps, like providing sales tax exemption on diesel prices and cutting the road tax to boost public transport or the industry cannot survive,” Lawrence said.
Private buses, especially those running during peak hours, discourage students, often not halting at bus stops or asking students not to board. Even if they get on to the bus, they are usually denied seats.
“We don’t mind paying another rupee or two. But the attitude of the bus staff should change. They are now very rude to children who find it difficult to go to school and return home,” said Suma Satheesh, mother of two who travel by private bus.
