Punjab gets to-do list for women’s safety

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 7

A woman physically abused or harassed while travelling by public transport will not be asked to get an FIR registered at the place of the incident. She will be allowed to approach the police station easily accessible to her. Also, a co-passenger coming forward to assist her will not be subjected to interrogation, if the suggestions made by a commission set up after the Moga molestation case are accepted by the Punjab government.

In May last year, a woman and her 13-year-old daughter were allegedly thrown off a running bus belonging to the Badal family, leaving the girl dead and triggering statewide protests.

Headed by former acting Chief Justice Ashutosh Mohanta, the panel wants the government to ensure that no indecent videos are screened or vulgar songs played and that the operating staff are in uniform with name badges. Punjab Roadways has already started issuing uniform.

It has also asked the government to start women-only buses during rush hour. The  transport department and private operators have agreed to start 100 buses.