A free bus service was launched across the Union Territory to make travel easier and more comfortable for women. As this news spread, women came out more confidently than before, traveling more frequently and covering longer distances. Although there was some opposition to this decision from public transport operators, no heed was given to their concerns. Soon, women were seen traveling in large numbers, and JKRTC and Smart City e-buses became jam-packed.

This initiative has been widely welcomed by women in J&K. Initially, there was less female participation due to a lack of awareness, but now almost every woman is well aware of bus timings and routes. Many even inquire in advance about routes before planning their journeys. At bus stops and sometimes even before reaching them women can be seen in impressive numbers, as if a grand gathering has been scheduled.
These days, finding a bus without a lively crowd of women passengers is almost as rare as finding an empty seat inside one.
I myself have travelled frequently on these buses. However, as the service is not meant for men, I often find it difficult to board. Even when I manage somehow, I feel uncomfortable being surrounded by women. Most men are seen standing, holding handrails for support, and only a few manage to get seats.
On one occasion, men had fortunately occupied most of the seats. When women boarded the bus, they sighed on seeing all the seats taken by men. Many of these women had to travel long distances while standing, which made them uncomfortable. Surprisingly, no man offered them a seat, and no one seemed to care.
I recalled earlier travel experiences when free service was only a dream. At that time, it was rare to see a woman standing in a bus. Men, whether young or old, were always ready to offer their seats to women. It was considered a mark of respect, and men felt it was their moral responsibility. However, this sense of responsibility seems to have diminished nowadays, and fewer people show such consideration.
Some passengers even argue that since women are traveling for free, they can afford to stand. Others whisper that they would rather endure discomfort while standing in a free bus than pay for travel in other vehicles.
Almost at every kilometre, bus drivers stop reluctantly to pick up women passengers, as every stop is crowded. Hardly any bus passes without taking them in. If a driver ignores their signals due to lack of space, the next day he may be confronted by women questioning his actions. If he fails to give a satisfactory explanation, he may face abuse or warnings of complaints for allegedly favouring male passengers who pay fares.
There are many such incidents where women feel neglected on these buses. It raises an important question: is value now judged by the price paid? Women were once treated with greater respect on paid transport, where men readily offered them seats.
No doubt, this initiative is a positive step toward empowering women. However, in some ways, it seems to have weakened the tradition of respectful behaviour. Regardless of these changes, we should continue to uphold our values. Women are our mothers and sisters, and we must always be willing to offer our seats to them. Preserving such practices is essential to maintaining the moral fabric of our society.

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