Kochi: At a time when private buses are racing against each other to rake in collections giving little thought for safety, a set of five private buses based in North Paravur are turning into role models by becoming age-friendly.
These buses would give special considerations for senior citizens during their daily service trips. The crew even got training on what emergency treatment needs to be administered to the elderly at times of emergencies among others.
“The present transport system is not elderly-friendly or disabled friendly. We cannot do much with the bus body structure but we can be more humane. We will stop for elderly people wherever they want for boarding and de-boarding. Also we will ensure they are seated and only then the bus will proceed. It does not matter if we lose a few bucks but we will have the satisfaction of becoming the cause of a few smiles,” says K.V. Koshy, owner of ‘Amme Narayana’ (KL 7 AF 2772) which conducts its service on the Puthenvelikkara-Paravur-Mala route.
The other buses are ‘Raueesha’ -- (Manjali-Kodungallur-Paravur; owner V I Rasheed), ‘Pourna’ --(Kunjithi-Kodungallur-North Paravur; owner K.A. Sham Sudheer), ‘Chilanka’ -- (Kottayil Kovilakom-Paravur-Eloor Ferry; owner C.C. Varghese) and ‘Sree Guruvayoorappen’ -- (Kadungalloor-Kunjithara-Eloor Ferry; owner A V Mohanan).
Unlike other private buses, these buses would have basic emergency medicines for the elderly and more seats reserved for elderly and disabled commuters. The bus owners have also tied up with ‘Age-Friendly Ernakulam’, an initiative of the Ernakulam district panchayat in collaboration with NGO MAGICS.
