A female conductor in Hubballi, Karnataka, has caused public outrage after slapping an elderly woman on a bus. The incident occurred on a bus travelling from Kundgol to Hubballi and was captured in a 55-second video. In the video, an argument can be seen breaking out between the conductor and the passenger, which quickly escalates to the conductor slapping the woman. Following the incident, the co-passengers came to the defence of the woman, and photos and videos of the assault have since gone viral on social media.
The incident comes just days after the state government of Karnataka released a circular, which called on employees of transport corporations to treat female passengers more respectfully. This call was in response to the state’s new Shakti scheme, which offers free bus travel to women throughout Karnataka. Since the scheme began on June 11th, over 5.98 crore women have taken advantage of the service.
While many women across Karnataka have been singing the scheme’s praises, the recent incident has left many questioning the behaviour of state-owned transport corporation staff members. The incident has resulted in significant public outrage, with many taking to social media to condemn the actions of the female conductor.
This incident highlights the importance of treating all passengers with respect and dignity. The state government must take prompt action to investigate the matter and ensure that all public transport employees conduct themselves in a professional manner. The Shakti scheme has been a great success, offering thousands of women the opportunity to travel throughout Karnataka for free. However, it is essential that the scheme’s success is not overshadowed by incidents such as this one. It is incumbent upon all involved to ensure the safety and respect of all passengers travelling on state-owned buses.
