The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has launched a new campaign called ‘Jagah Dakhva’ to fight against sexual harassment on state buses. This initiative was introduced in partnership with an NGO called Akshara Centre on Thursday, August 15. The goal is to protect the dignity and safety of women while they travel. The program is designed to make travel safer for women and to spread awareness about the importance of preventing sexual misbehaviour on public transport.
To address this issue, bus conductors have received extensive training from Akshara Centre and MSRTC. This training focuses on handling harassment complaints effectively. This campaign consists of three videos highlighting unacceptable behaviours and encouraging them to confront harassment while travelling.
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A recent survey by an NGO revealed that in Pune, 63% of women reported experiencing sexual harassment on buses, yet only 12% of these incidents were reported to the police. In Mumbai, only 2% of female commuters reported such incidents, and none of them were satisfied with the outcome. The survey also found that about 70% of women witnessed violence while using public transport.
MSRTC operates over 15,000 buses daily, serving more than 5 million passengers across cities, towns, and nearly 44,000 villages in Maharashtra.
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