BMTC strike: Safety was an issue for parents

As the BMTC strike continues without an end in sight, not only are regular commuters affected by the strike but parents are keeping a keen eye on the evolving events hoping the strike comes to an end by the weekend wears out.

Safety is one of the reasons why working mother Mita Sunita, a social studies teacher based in Jayanagar, has trouble concentrating on much else as the clock ticks past four in the evening.

“The past two days we have had to send my son, who is in sixth standard in St Joseph’s school alone on the auto because we have not had much choice. I am worried that it is past 4.15pm and he is still not home yet when he should be,” she grinned nervously.

Sunita is among the many parents who have had to find alternative transportation for their children as the BMTC strike stretches on. “I am not worried about the money aspect of spending on autos but I am definitely worried about my son’s safety. I just don’t like that he is travelling to school alone in autos. And you never know when they will be able to catch that auto and if the auto driver is reliable or not. It is a problem,” she added, as her son walked into the house.

For Hema Ganesh, the strike affected her daughter, who is a10th standard student at Bishop Cotton Girls School for only one day.
“The reason this is such a problem is because for many schools, the BMTC buses double up as school buses. So yesterday I sent my daughter along with another kid in the auto. Today thankfully, the school was shut down, so we did not have to worry about commute,” said Hema, adding that come Monday, the midterm exams would begin.

“Once the exams begin, usually my daughter and many of her friends end up taking the autos anyway. So I don’t know how this will affect her further,” she explains.

Some parents are however heaving a huge sigh of relief that their children commute via vans. Aruna Kumari, a housewife at Sanjay Nagar, who has two children, said she is grateful that during the BMTC strike, her children’s schedule has not been affected.
“My daughter has been travelling in the school van for years now. It has the same van driver and I am not worried at all,” she added.