HUBBALLI: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) announced an honorary golden bus pass for Olympic gold winner Neeraj Chopra and landed itself in a spot as netizens questioned why a similar gesture was not extended to Padma awardees, some of whom are financially poor.
When netizens criticised the golden bus pass move as publicity, the KSRTC defended the action, saying that it was a token of respect to achievers in the Olympics.
However, Shivayogi Kalasad, the managing director of KSRTC, Bengaluru, has said that if Padma awardees were capable and wished to travel by KSRTC buses, the transport authority would make similar passes for them too.
“It’s our honour to issue passes to Padma awardees. Due to the Covid-19 situation, the process was delayed. If awardees are capable and wish to travel in our buses, we will definitely issue the passes soon,” Kalasad said.
People had asked why there such gestures of respect were not shown to Padma awardees such as Hajabba, Saalumarada Thimmakka, Manjamma Jogati and others, who are financially poor but have drawn national attention with their achievement.
Umesh B N, the adopted son of Thimmakka, told TOI that the KSRTC has not issued a pass to his mother though she got Padma Shri award in 2019.
“Actually, she got a pass to travel in ordinary coaches when a student had approached the President of India seeking a pass for her to travel to plant saplings long ago. The pass expired 3-4 years ago. As my mother is 110 years old, she doesn’t wish to visit a KSRTC office and ask for a pass. However, she needs to travel long distances. The KSRTC never approached us in this regard,” he said.
The transgender folk artiste Manjamma Jogathi, a Padma Shri awardee this year, and the president of the Karnataka Janapada Academy, said that when she enquired through academy officials with KSRTC, she was told that no such facility was available.
“Once the tenure as the academy president is over, I will have to travel by bus,” she added.
Harekala Hajabba, a Padma Shri awardee this year, who has spent all his earnings for a school set for poor children, said that though he got the Padma Shri in August, he was not issued the pass. If the pass is given, it will be helpful to me,” he said.
It may be recalled that the KSRTC had passed a resolution to provide free-ride passes to Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Param Veer Chakra, Mahaveer Chakra awardees on January 10, 2011.
When netizens criticised the golden bus pass move as publicity, the KSRTC defended the action, saying that it was a token of respect to achievers in the Olympics.
However, Shivayogi Kalasad, the managing director of KSRTC, Bengaluru, has said that if Padma awardees were capable and wished to travel by KSRTC buses, the transport authority would make similar passes for them too.
“It’s our honour to issue passes to Padma awardees. Due to the Covid-19 situation, the process was delayed. If awardees are capable and wish to travel in our buses, we will definitely issue the passes soon,” Kalasad said.
People had asked why there such gestures of respect were not shown to Padma awardees such as Hajabba, Saalumarada Thimmakka, Manjamma Jogati and others, who are financially poor but have drawn national attention with their achievement.
Umesh B N, the adopted son of Thimmakka, told TOI that the KSRTC has not issued a pass to his mother though she got Padma Shri award in 2019.
“Actually, she got a pass to travel in ordinary coaches when a student had approached the President of India seeking a pass for her to travel to plant saplings long ago. The pass expired 3-4 years ago. As my mother is 110 years old, she doesn’t wish to visit a KSRTC office and ask for a pass. However, she needs to travel long distances. The KSRTC never approached us in this regard,” he said.
The transgender folk artiste Manjamma Jogathi, a Padma Shri awardee this year, and the president of the Karnataka Janapada Academy, said that when she enquired through academy officials with KSRTC, she was told that no such facility was available.
“Once the tenure as the academy president is over, I will have to travel by bus,” she added.
Harekala Hajabba, a Padma Shri awardee this year, who has spent all his earnings for a school set for poor children, said that though he got the Padma Shri in August, he was not issued the pass. If the pass is given, it will be helpful to me,” he said.
It may be recalled that the KSRTC had passed a resolution to provide free-ride passes to Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Param Veer Chakra, Mahaveer Chakra awardees on January 10, 2011.
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