Sulagna Routray takes a ride on the women’s special bus in Bhubaneswar. Pictures by Sanjib Mukherjee

When I boarded the special women’s bus launched on Monday, I had mixed feelings. As I took a Nandankanan-Airport route bus from Master Canteen Square, I wondered how many women had actually tried out the new “special” facility.

It was good to see quite a few smiling faces. Women were seated comfortably and seemed happy about the new service. But to me, it also felt like belonging to an endangered species that needed secure buses because their male counterparts out there were too dangerous and we, too vulnerable!

The experience on the bus was wonderful in many ways.

Mostly, because I got to talk to many women and tried to understand their views on their status here. Working women had relief writ large on their faces because they could now travel safe and not worry about their co-passengers’ intentions even when the bus was overcrowded. Some youngsters were happy because their parents would now breathe easy. Indeed, if one knows the right timings of the special buses, commuting in the city will be comfortable for women.

The good thing about ladies’ specials is the bonding that develops among women. During my college days in Mumbai, I used to travel in local trains and in the ladies’ compartment. I had made new “relatives” — aunties, sisters and many more during the trips. We would share our lunches and support each other during frustrating times in college or the workplace. I feel our women’s buses will also see similar scenes. Young girls and women on the route 207 bus felt relaxed as they did not have to make their way through men who would not want to budge.

Yet, I am not convinced if this is what we women need. We are becoming social outcasts in a way, as if the only way we can be protected is by separating us from men. True, this facility will reduce instances of eve-teasing and molestation, but I guess then some may find the best way to keep women secure is by encouraging her to remain at home and not step outside! Isn’t this almost the same? Will we now ask for female conductors and then special women autorickshaws, special restaurants and parks?

Sulagna Routray takes a ride on the women’s special bus in Bhubaneswar. Pictures by Sanjib Mukherjee

This is no remedy for safety. If our police can be seen active and busy collecting fines from everyone without a helmet, why can’t we have more policemen trying to control crime? I know of many instances where FIRs have not been accepted for eve-teasing and molestation or stalking on the excuse that these were “minor incidents”.

It will not be completely wrong if I say that this new service is part of the campaign for the upcoming elections. I don’t think this is for the comfort of women because had our government been so kind and concerned, we would have had more secure roads where we could walk safely at any hour of the day.

Women who have to fight it out to pursue education and careers deserve reservation. But keeping them away from society is no solution. Even in DTS buses in Delhi, I have heard from many friends about the misconduct of male passengers and drivers. The Delhi rape case is still fresh in our minds.

But can such incidents not happen to us when we are out on the streets? Will they protect us with special roads now? It is women who need to help others of their sex and stand up for them, be in it buses or elsewhere. I remember being helped by elderly ladies in Mumbai many times during my train and bus travels there.

It is our mindset that needs to change. Convenience and comfort is welcome but until our police decide to make it a safer city, our capital will keep going backwards with these initiatives. If I talk about this move to my friends living abroad, they might just start laughing.

I have seen pregnant women standing while young boys keep sitting in buses. In a way, this service is a respite, but I believe this won’t help the greater cause of women’s liberation.