MTC buses a convenient spot for eve-teasers

By Akila Dinakar

CHENNAI, DEC. 7. A couple of weeks ago, two women travelling in an MTC bus were stared at by a drunkard seated before them. When they asked the man to look forward, not a soul including the conductor came to their support. It culminated in the women threatening that the unwelcome behaviour would be reported to the police and the man was off the bus, throwing choicest abuses at the women.

This is just one incident of eve-teasing in crowded MTC buses where anything from nudging to squeezing or bodily harassment takes place everyday. While the bolder women dare to shout, the meek ones, especially school girls suffer in silence.

Women commuters unanimously agree that eve-teasing in buses is one major problem that can spoil a whole day's work if it happens on way to school, college or office.

Ms. Indu a commuter to work was witness to an incident where a middle-aged man, on the pretext of guiding a school girl out of the bus placed his hand on her shoulder. At Maharani bus stop in Old Washermenpet, a boy had the audacity to kiss a girl in front of all commuters. The shocked girl just drew her dupatta over her face and fled the scene.

Eve-teasing is a common phenomenon in crowded routes of North Chennai particularly Vyasarpadi, Vallalar Nagar, *Royapuram, Tiruvottriyur and on 11 A and other T. Nagar routes. While Ms. Sudha Ramalingam, Advocate says that under the Eve-Teasing Act, the bus crew is liable for a fine of Rs. 1,000 if they fail to drive the bus to the police station on complaint from the victim, it never happens.

Ms. U. Vasuki, Assistant Secretary, All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), Tamil Nadu, said men in buses have innumerable ways to get closer like just bending to look for the stopping on the `Women's' side, while passing the money for tickets, trying to open obscene conversation and many more antics that make women squirm.

Whether they are central-entry buses or special women's exit buses, the eve-teasers have a field day stationed around the footboard area. Even women cops travelling in MTC are no exception as victims.

There are several safety measures that women have learnt to adopt. Ms. Indu said that to prevent a man from leaning behind her, she used a straightened out safety pin. Another commuter knew the art of holding the seat bars in such a manner that the elbows silently press the solar plexus of the culprit. Karateka Ms. Bhanumathi Deivasigamani says a dupatta can be used to immobilise a mischievous hand or more subtle techniques can be adopted with hand bags, safety and hair pins and tiffin boxes. Psychology professor, Dr. K.V. Kaliappan, of the University of Madras says the only help for women is, ``to aggressively retaliate and not remain docile,'' under such circumstances.

A survey done by the students of Madras University's Department of Journalism reports that in one incident when two girls were ragged by college boys in a bus, the crew which was more concerned about the bus said, ``It's enough if they do not damage our bus''.

Though MTC as yet does not have an official programme to weed out eve-teasing in buses, plans are afoot to place police men and women in muftis to check eve-teasing. A mobile court with a retired judge to handle cases of eve-teasing, pick-pockets and ticketless travellers, fitted with a wireless set is also on the anvil, MTC officials say.

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