The traffic fined Rs 200 to 177 public vehicles between May 30 and June 5 for failing to reserve seats for the targeted groups.[break]
“We took action as an option of last resort. We had carried out awareness campaign on the issue since long. In coordination with various women and social organizations we had been making people and drivers aware about the reservation system,” said DSP Pawan Giri, spokesperson for the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division (MTPD). “However, we had to fine the vehicles as they were not following the rule,” he added.
Rising public concern regarding sexual violence against women in public vehicles and hardships faced by elderly and disabled in lack of seats reserved for them had compelled MTPD to actively enforce the reservation policy since the last four months. As per the Motor Vehicles and Transport Management Act, 1993, it is mandatory for public transport entrepreneurs to reserve six seats for women and two each for the disabled and the elderly on short routes and two seats each for the three groups on a long route. The rule necessitates the vehicles to clearly display visible signs that read “reserved for women, people with disabilities and senior citizens.”
The traffic police had started to monitor the system following a meeting between trade unions, stakeholders and MTPD on 20 January. Various awareness methods including playing informative jingles through the Metro Traffic FM were tried.
“The effort has yielded results. Not just the drivers, even the public is more aware of their rights.”
According to Amrit Rai, director of Nepal Blind Association, it is not sufficient only to reserve seats in the public vehicles for disabled, though the effort is worth appreciating. “There is a lot more to be done for the disabled people. In lack of disabled friendly infrastructure, people like us miss so much in life,” he noted.
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