JOIN USBMTC goes the extra mile on women's safety
The BMTC has formed a Women Passengers Safety Committee consisting of its senior officers, officers from the police, transport and the women and child welfare departments and representatives of NGOs.
The formation of the committee is among the initiatives taken by the Corporation during the Women Passengers Safety Week that was held from December 22 to 27.
The valedictory function of the Women Passengers Safety Week and gender sensitisation programme was inaugurated by Ramalinga Reddy, Minister for Transport and Bengaluru City in-charge minister, in the City on Saturday.
Child safety
Reddy said, “Safety of children in schoolbuses is also a priority. We have started the work of installing CCTV cameras in schoolbuses. By early next year, more than 200 BMTC school buses will have the necessary safety precautions. We are also planning to introduce GPS tracking system in schoolbuses,” he added.
As part of the programme, many other initiatives were taken. Passengers were given handouts with telephone numbers for people to lodge complaints with BMTC and police, besides information on the responsibilities and duties of employees and passengers in case of sexual harassment incidents in buses, bus stands, schools and colleges.
The BMTC also conducted gender sensitisation programme for its drivers/conductors/mechanics on their duties and responsibilities in cases of sexual harassment in buses. Information was also given out on where to complain and measures to be taken in such cases by expert trainers during the programme.
A total of 15,401 employees were given training. A dedicated helpline (1800 425 1663) has been opened to report complaints about safety of women passengers. These calls are being attended to on a priority basis. The email ID to lodge complaints is complaints@mybmtc.com.
The BMTC’s drama troupe staged streetplays regarding safety of women passengers at all major bus stands and TTMCs. Stickers informing that sexual harassment is punishable and having telephone numbers of BMTC and police department are displayed in all BMTC buses and banners are displayed at all major bus stands and TTMCs.