This refers to the article “Reserved for ladies” by Muhammad Yousuf (GK, August, 11, 2012) regarding reservation of first nine ladies seats in the buses in the state. This has been done on the initiative of voluntary organization of civil society forum. Accordingly the traffic police moved a proposal for reservation of nine seats for ladies without doing any home work and research analysis. On the other hand the people who are helm of affairs approved the proposal blindly without knowing ground realties of population of the state as per gender.
In our states female population on an average travel less than 5 percent during peaks working hours I. e in morning and evening times in buses which have a capacity of 22 to 28 seats approved by traffic and transport department. It means 40 percent of seats remained reserved for ladies as compared to other states of India where females are traveling more than 20 percent in local buses per day approximately.
In Kerala where literacy rate is 100 percent and maximum both male and females are working in Government, semi government and private sectors specially in capitals and other metropolitan cities. The government have reserved only 6 to 8 seats for women including disabled persons in a bus where capacity of seats are 55 to 60. It means 13 percnet seats are reserved for ladies where maximum number of ladies is working in private as well as in public sector. In other metropolitan cities viz Delhi, Madras, Mumbai and Bangalore maximum number of ladies are working with males in different fields.  In Kashmir less than 5percent females are travelling in local mini buses especially in peaks hours of morning and evening sections. On what analogy the traffic department recommended 9 seats to be reserved for ladies in those mini buses where capacity of seats are 22 to 28. It means 40% seats are remain reserved for ladies, which is not only unjustified  but also inexcusable for other gender who frequently travels at the ratio of more than 95 percent.
Reservations are always done considering the population factor, not on the basis of influence and approach. The Government and traffic authority should reconsider the matter in the interest of general public and not on the basis of gender and recommendation. The decisions should be taken accordingly on the basis of proper research analysis and data. If we reserve 4 seats for ladies in a mini bus having capacity of 22 to 28 seats, it means 18 percent of seats, which is still higher than other female denominated cities. Then it becomes moral responsibility of men to offer reserved seat to ladies.

(M. Afzal Azad is former lecturer Biostatistics, Government Medical College Srinagar. Feedback at afzalspm@gmail.com)

Lastupdate on : Fri, 17 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 17 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 18 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST