In order to build a gender-neutral bus shelter, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation dismantled the divisive bus shelter near the engineering college, Chavadimukku.
Last Friday, the bus shelter was dismantled by the company under police protection. After locals divided the long seat that can fit three persons in half, the bus shelter came under fire. Three people could fit in the seat. Students voiced their opposition by sharing pictures of girls sitting on boys’ laps. The students said that some locals were monitoring their moral behaviour. Discussions supporting both viewpoints ensued after that.
Visited the students and extended her support, Mayor Arya Rajendran. The new mayor proposed a bus stop that was open to both sexes.
After making some improvements to the bus shelter, the locals commented that it could only be used as a bus stop and that students could not come and sit there.
The renovated bus shelter was dismantled by the Municipal Corporation, and according to Mayor Arya Rajendran, “A new, gender-neutral bus shelter is now in the planning stages. The bus shelter design is almost finished, and once it is, the construction will be finished in two weeks.”
The building by the residents association was unlawful, and it is unacceptable to discriminate against students, the mayor declared.
Arjun, one of the children, told that they were pleased with the corporation’s action and were looking forward to the new bus stop. “Following this debate, things returned to normal, and students were preoccupied with exams. The residential association then began renovating in their own style. They have modified it such that it can only be used as a bus stop and that children are not permitted to come and sit in this area. The Mayor had visited during that period and had proposed a new bus stop. As we wait for the new bus stop after she cleared the resident associations bus stop, “said Arjun.
