Govt recommends marshals’ reinstatement in Delhi buses

The AAP-led Delhi Government recommended reinstatement of bus marshals in the city’s public transport system on Sunday, sources said. The decision followed a high-level Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Atishi, at the Delhi Secretariat. The bus marshals will serve as pollution sentinels for four months, after which they will be reassigned to corporation buses.

In 2017-18, former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal introduced bus marshals to enhance passenger safety on buses, especially for women. Approximately 10,000 marshals, trained as civil defence volunteers (CDVs), were deployed to provide a reassuring presence for commuters.

“The Cabinet has recommended the immediate reinstatement of bus marshals,” noted government sources. The decision has been submitted to Atishi and will soon be sent to the Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) for approval.

For nearly eight years, these bus marshals performed their duties without interruption, fully supported by Delhi Transport Corporation and the revenue and finance departments in terms of recruitment and salaries. However, in early 2023, administrative challenges began to emerge, following which they were removed in October.

“The Transport Minister detailed in October that certain officials argued the availability of CCTV and panic buttons made bus marshals redundant,” said government sources. In a show of solidarity, the Delhi Assembly passed a resolution on September 26, recommending the reinstatement and regularisation of jobs of all bus marshals.

The resolution was endorsed by Delhi’s council of ministers on October 5 and subsequently sent to the L-G for a final decision.

“Our party leaders stood shoulder to shoulder with marshals, facing every challenge alongside them,” sources said.

Meanwhile, Opposition leader Vijender Gupta accused the Delhi Government of mishandling the reinstatement of marshals, stating that the government’s indecisiveness and inactivity had raised questions about these marshals’ livelihoods.

He alleged that the government had shown a complete lack of sensitivity towards their employment issues. “The AAP government has played politics with this issue over the past year, wasting time in accusations and counter-accusations,” he said.

Despite orders from the L-G, the Delhi Government deliberately delayed action, he added. “The L-G had to write to Atishi twice, warning her, which finally prompted the government to begin action.”

Gupta alleged that these 10,000 marshals and their families now face livelihood challenges, with their young children on the brink of destitution.