Arguments for:
1) Women should have separate buses for commuting if only for the avoidance of discomfort and sheer agony they experience in common buses. Buses are irregular, improperly maintained, and overcrowded. Women have to rub shoulders with all types of travelers. The plight of mothers with children-in-arms balancing themselves precariously near the footboard is simply pitiable.
2) Eve-teasing, pickpocketing, chain snatching and other mischievous acts are more likely in common buses when women travel with men. There are altercations, arguments and sometimes even exchange of blows between men and women for actual or suspected mischief. To a great extent such situations can be avoided for atleast minimized through buses exclusively for women.
Arguments Against:
1) Buses exclusively for women in modern times are not to be permitted. It cuts at the root of gender equality. In these days of women’s liberation, woman in no way is unequal to man. The days when she was considered helpless and weak are gone. She is in a position to compete with man in almost every field of activity.
2) To ply separate buses for women tantamount to segregation of women. Man’s curiosity and capacity of mischief may increase if women are not allowed to travel in the same bus. This may lead to new type of crimes and mischief. In a democratic country, where equal rights are guaranteed by the constitution, there should be no restriction for a free mingling of man and woman without overstepping each other’s rights, privileges and emotions.
P.S. The above comments are our perceptions and yours need not be exactly the same. What we seek to stimulate is a motivation on your part to think on these issues and develop your own perceptions and comment below.
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