Bus Conductor Bars School Students from Boarding in Thrissur; SFI Condemns Incident

Thrissur: A private bus conductor in Thrissur district refused to allow school students to board a bus at Vadakkancherry bus stand, with video of the incident spreading rapidly on social media and drawing widespread public outrage. In the footage, students waiting in a queue are seen being turned away despite pleading with the conductor — with one student folding his hands and appealing helplessly, to no avail. While three or four students were allowed on board, the conductor refused to let the remaining five travel, even as students from another school were subsequently permitted to board.

The incident is widely suspected to be part of a protest by private bus operators hit by the financial impact of the state government's 'Priyadarshini' free travel scheme for women on KSRTC buses, with owners reportedly venting their grievance at the expense of students.

SFI state secretary P S Sanjeev strongly condemned the conduct of private bus staff towards students, saying the Vadakkancherry incident is unlikely to be isolated. He demanded that the government ensure necessary legislation and its strict enforcement while student concessions are offered. "Travel concessions are not a favour to students — they are a right. If bus owners and workers have any grievance, they must take it up with the government. What fault do the students have?" he asked.

SFI state president M Sivaprasad said the incident at Vadakkancherry is something civil society can never accept, and made clear that no bus operator would be allowed to exploit students or ride roughshod over them to compensate for financial losses arising from government policy. The organisation would resist any such moves, he said.