IANS

Commuting in this urbanised capital city using public transport is no easy feat, especially for women.

This was the message of a flash demonstration organised by Global Platform Nepal
yesterday.

The group of youngsters urged the government and public not to turn a blind eye on sexual harassment which has become rampant in the country’s public transport sector.

“Women and girls are facing sexual harassment on a daily basis but they do not speak up. Such abuses are tolerated because victims lack confidence and knowledge on how to fight it,” Binita KC, a social activist, told Xinhua during the flash
demonstration.

In Kathmandu, finding a way through a labyrinth of buses and taxis is a daunting task, not to mention the discomfort that one experiences in the journey.

Whatever the mode of transport used, according to a new World Bank report, titled “Gender and Public Transport in Nepal,” the number one problem for all commuters is overcrowding. Drivers squeeze every available passenger into their buses for the biggest profits possible.

According to the department of transport management, 1mn people use public transport daily, making this industry a major player in the Nepalese economy.

Buses in Kathmandu, especially during rush hours, are always packed, giving some sex-starved individuals chances for inappropriate behaviour, such as touching private parts of women
passengers.

“Men should think about their sisters or wives before touching a woman. Even from my front seat I usually try to help victims of sexual harassment,” Meghraj Khatria, a bus driver, said.

According to the World Bank, women comprise at least one-third of the travelling public in Kathmandu, with one in three feeling insecure in public transports.

“Some men will just stand behind you to touch or rub themselves against your body,” Urmila, a woman in her mid-20s, said.

Young women aged 19-25 are more likely to experience “inappropriate touching” compared to other age groups, with 43% having actually experienced this kind of harassment, according to the World Bank study.

The main perpetrators are middle-aged men and more than half of all women surveyed said they would avoid standing or sitting next to a middle-aged man while
travelling.

According to Dr Dee Jupp, World Bank consultant, collective action is needed to address gender and public
transport problems.

“Solving public transport issues requires a social contract; it requires everybody to recognise that there is a problem. We need to think about it together, so that it becomes an opportunity to build social norms around making these public spaces more secure for everyone,” Jupp said.

 

 

Related Story