Student organisation Chatra Bharti has appealed to the state government to provide free State Transport (ST) bus passes to students across Maharashtra, citing the struggles faced by children from rural and farming communities who depend on public transport to reach schools and colleges.
The demand gained momentum after a recent incident in Chhada taluka, where a Class 5 student, Badal Rajaram Barela, was reportedly forced to get off an ST bus because his pass had expired. The boy was then compelled to walk two to three kilometers in the rain to reach home. Despite the matter being reported nearly 20 days ago, no action has been taken against the bus conductor involved, the organization claimed.
Amid the controversy, Chatra Bharti has also drawn attention to Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik. The group criticised the minister for reportedly gifting his grandson a luxury Tesla car for school while thousands of rural and tribal students struggle for affordable daily transportation.
In an open letter addressed to Sarnaik, Chatra Bharti president Rohit Dhale said, “It is understandable for a grandfather to fulfill his grandson’s wishes. But as a minister, he carries the responsibility of ensuring that millions of students in rural and tribal areas are not deprived of their right to education due to transport issues.”
The organisation has demanded that the state government provide free ST passes to all students in Maharashtra and issue strict directives to ensure students are not subjected to disrespect or mistreatment by transport staff during their commute.
Dhale concluded that while the minister had fulfilled his grandson’s wish, it was now time for him to fulfill the aspirations of countless students across the state who rely on ST buses as their only means of reaching educational institutions.
