Transport entrepreneurs have accused the government of taking the decision on seat reservation and discount to the elderly in public transport without consulting them.
As per the directives issued by the Department of Transportation Management (DoTM) in August, 2013, public transport, especially buses and minibuses, should reserve two seats for the people above the age of 60 and provide them 50 percent discount on fares. But the directive has yet to be implemented. On Friday, the District Administration Office (DAO), Bhaktapur gave a week´s ultimatum to transport entrepreneurs to implement the directive.
“We have issued strong instructions to transport entrepreneurs. Now, the elderly will receive fare discount,” said Chief District Officer of Bhaktapur Anil Kumar Thakur.
However, Dharma Raj Rimal, coordinator of Bagmati chapter of Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE), said the local authorities have not informed the federation about the decision.
“As I am the coordinator of the zone, I should have been informed about the meeting. But I was not informed. Moreover, none of our district representatives have attended the meeting at DAO. The government is trying to implement the directives without consulting us. This is unacceptable,” he said.
The Department of Transport Management had issued instructions to local authorities across the country to implement the directive.
“We are already providing fare discount to the students. So we can provide discount to the elderly only if the government provides us subsidies,” said Rimal, adding, “We will be compelled to take to the streets if the government tries to forcefully implement its directive.”
Agitating elderly to self-immolate
Elderly citizens, who have been staging protests outside the DoTM for the last 16 months, have warned of self-immolation on Sunday evening if the government fails to address their demand.
The elderly have been staging protests in the capital demanding discount in public transport and hospitals. Similarly, they have also been demanding separate ward for the elderly patients at the hospitals.
Maha Prasad Sitaula, coordinator of a struggle committee of the elderly citizens, said the elderly would resort to self-immolation if the government does not address their demands through the budget announcement on Sunday.
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