Villagers left in lurch

CHHOTAUDEPUR, JUNE 16: Five weeks after the police, acting on a Home Ministry directive, banned unlicensed passenger jeeps in rural Vadod...

CHHOTAUDEPUR, JUNE 16: Five weeks after the police, acting on a Home Ministry directive, banned unlicensed passenger jeeps in rural Vadodara, the Gujarat State Road Transport has delivered another blow to its population by suddenly withdrawing the 30 new buses introduced to replace the popular mode of conveyance.

The reasons are financial, according to Divisional Controller P K Patel. Though ST collections rose by Rs 50 lakhs in the Vadodara rural sector in May, the passenger strength 8212; far more than what the ST attracted when the jeeps plied the roads 8212; did not make the service viable, he said.

But the move directly contradicts State Transport Minister Bimal Shah8217;s post-ban statement that the GSRTC would increase services in the rural sector and add 3000 buses to its existing fleet to fill the gap left by the jeeps.

When contacted, Shah expressed ignorance about the withdrawal. 8220;I8217;ll have to confirm the information8221;, he said, while adding that ST services were not run with the motive of profit, but one of service to people.

With ground reality belying policy, the hardest hit, of course, have been the rural populace. Cursing the police for pulling jeeps convenient, popular and cheap off the road, Ramsinh Bhikhabhai Rathwa, a resident of Panwad village, 12 km from Chhotaudepur, said he had to walk the entire stretch to the weekly market on Saturday.

There are many like him. And there are scores like Kanubhai Tikmabhai Rathwa of Jhonjh, 16 km from Chhotaudepur, who has to wait for hours for an ST bus to the taluka headquarters. Return journeys are even more of a nightmare.

Apart from the general public, the ban has also pulled the rug from under the feet of hundreds of tribal youths enticed by Gujarat State Tribal Development Corporation soft loans to buy and operate jeeps in the Chhotaudepur belt.

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Several jeep-owners of Chhotaudepur and nearby areas told Express Newsline they had been unable to pay last month8217;s installment on their vehicles as they8217;d been lying idle. Phoolsinh Rathwa of Nani Dhumad said he was considering selling his jeep to repay the loan, while Bhavsinh Rathwa is pinning his hopes on a government rethink. They estimated local youths had invested at least Rs 4 crores in jeeps in hopes of quick profits.

8220;If the government can8217;t provide employment and transport facilities, it has no right to snatch public-oriented self-employment opportunities8221;, said jeep operator Parsinh Rathwa.

Apart from this grouse, many are sore that they8217;ve had to pay Rs 4,000 and more for overloading despite regular haftas to the local police. Senior police officials admitted that the hafta was Rs 800 for the Chhotaudepur police station area and Rs 300 for each police station beyond that.

8220;If trucks are permitted to carry loads beyond capacity, why can8217;t jeeps be allowed to carry more passengers?8221;, questioned Suleimbhai Mala, president of the Chhotaudepur Truck and Transport Association. 8220;Jeeps are doing social service by running on routes untouched by the ST.8221;

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Jeep operators Dilip Pancholi and Bachubhai Dumanbhai Rathwa said they don8217;t believe overloading caused road mishaps. 8220;So the ban is no solution8221;, said Suleimbhai Mala.

Alleging that the ban had been brought about by their refusal to carry BJP supporters free of charge to and from the party8217;s Parivartan Rally8217; in Ahmedabad in April, jeep-operators in Chhotaudepur, Jetpur-Pavi and Bodeli said they are being victimised. Who will disillusion them?