Even though the State is known all over the world for its matrilineal system with the women community being provided a special status in the society, however, the ground reality is far from rosy.
The SPTS buses which ply across the city have some seats reserved for women and the disabled, but on most occasions it is found that people care two hoots about the reservation of seats for women in the buses.
It is always found that women are forced to stand in the buses since their seats are occupied by male passengers. What is shameful is that despite seeing the members of the weaker sex standing, the male passengers do not even bother to give their seats to the women.
This kind of behaviour on the part of the male passengers is unique only in Meghalaya.
In other parts of the country everyone seems to have respect for women, atleast as far as matters relating to reservation of seats for women in public vehicles is concerned.
What is even more despicable is sometimes even elderly women have to stand while male passengers have a comfortable ride on the seats meant for the women.
Some women passengers alleged that the conductor of the SPTS buses is expected to see that the seats which are reserved for women are not occupied by males.
The conductor should allow males to occupy the reserved seats only if no woman passenger is standing, they said.
“But when there are women passengers standing in the bus, the conductors should ask the male passengers to vacate the seats,” the women said.
“On many occasions I have to stand in the bus since the seats which are reserved for women are being occupied by male passengers. I really face extreme difficulty in standing in the bus,” E Diengdoh of Rynjah, who frequently travel by the STPS buses to go to her office, said.
Echoing the same view, one R Khongdup said that perhaps it is only in Meghalaya where the male passengers have total disrespect for women travelling in the buses.
“Since I am pregnant I really face difficulty in stand in the bus. I am deeply hurt inside when I find that people have no respect even for a pregnant woman,” Khongdup lamented.
Meanwhile, an aged woman W Massar who also frequently travels by SPTS buses said, “This disrespect shown to an elderly women is common among the younger generation. In the past, people in the city had more respect for women, especially the elderly. Male passengers would always vacate the reserved seats for any woman, young or old in the past. This generation is however, quite different.”
She said that this negative attitude among the younger generation towards the elderly people is a result of declining moral values in the society. (By Lamphrang Nongspung)