Bus marshals’ removal led to rise in crime against women: Atishi

Chief Minister Atishi on Monday said the AAP government would send a proposal to Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) VK Saxena for the formulation of a policy on retaining 10,000 bus marshals on permanent basis.

Atishi, in a press conference, said the removal of bus marshals had led to a rise in crimes against women on public transport buses.

At an all-minister meeting held on Sunday, the Transport Commissioner indicated that decisions on reinstating bus marshals fall under the authority of the L-G as it is a service-related matter, the CM said.

She said the Delhi Government is moving ahead with a proposal on an “as-is, where-is” basis, while it waits for a policy from the L-G.

“The Delhi Government is committed to ensuring the safety of its citizens and will provide the necessary financial resources for the marshals’ salaries,” Atishi said.

She also expressed fear that the L-G may “take months or even years” in coming up with a permanent solution to the matter.

The bus marshals were deployed in the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses in 2015 to enhance the safety of women travellers. However, after the revenue and finance department raised objections to their service, marshals were removed on October 31 last year. The order cited that the civil defence volunteers were meant to serve in disaster mitigation-related works and their deployment as bus marshals was wrong.

“I hope the L-G approves this proposal promptly so that women, children and seniors in Delhi can once again feel safe while travelling on buses,” Atishi added.

Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj appealed to the L-G to ‘stop twisting the issue’. “It has been dragged on for months. Reinstating these bus marshals will allow them to support their families again. While the L-G resides comfortably, these are Delhi’s poor who need immediate relief. Politics on such issues is inappropriate; they deserve prompt action,” he added.