Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. BUDGAM: District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Budgam organised an awareness programme for drivers and helpers of public transport with the objective of sensitising them about the rights, safety, dignity and comfort of women commuters and the important role of transport personnel in ensuring a safe and respectful public transportation environment.
The awareness programme focused particularly on women’s reservation in public transport, women’s safety and prevention of harassment and misconduct. The drivers and helpers were sensitised about the importance of ensuring that earmarked/reserved seats for women are made available to women commuters and that such seats are respected in letter and spirit.
Nazeer Ahmad Wagay served as the Resource Person for the programme. He sensitised the participants about the legal rights of women, their safety and dignity in public transport, prevention of harassment and the duties and responsibilities of drivers and helpers towards women passengers. He emphasised that transport personnel have an important responsibility to ensure that women commuters are able to travel in an environment free from harassment, intimidation, discrimination and other forms of misconduct.
During his interaction with the participants, the Resource Person highlighted the need for polite and respectful behaviour towards women commuters and impressed upon the drivers and helpers that any act of harassment or misconduct against women may attract legal consequences. The participants were also advised to remain vigilant and to respond responsibly to any situation affecting the safety, dignity or comfort of women passengers.
The programme further emphasised that harassment of women is a punishable offence under law and that every driver and helper must discharge their duties with professionalism, responsibility and sensitivity. The participants were encouraged to contribute towards creating a safe, inclusive and women-friendly public transport system.
DLSA Budgam stressed that safe and dignified public transportation is essential for ensuring women’s equal participation in public life and called upon drivers and helpers to act as responsible stakeholders in safeguarding the rights, dignity and security of women commuters.
The programme was attended by the Assistant Regional Transport Officer, Budgam, staff of ARTO Budgam, officials and staff of DLSA Budgam, Para-Legal Volunteers (PLVs) of DLSA Budgam, drivers and helpers of public transport, as well as members of the general public.
The presence and participation of the concerned stakeholders provided an important platform for reinforcing collective responsibility towards women’s safety in public transportation.