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Bus fare hikes and public needs

For those who do not qualify to be among the "upper income groups" in this country, a bus fare hike is an unsettling problem.

Accordingly, the vast majority of the local population could be expected to be reeling under yet another unexpected cost of living blow dealt by the recent 8.5 per cent bus fare rise, which the recommendations of the National Transport Commission have occasioned. This is no mere cost of living pinch. Rising transport costs add to the staggering daily burdens shouldered by the ordinary people.

However, we appreciate the concern shown for the common man's lot by the Western Province Transport Ministry which is proposing to offer concessions to those private bus operators who refrain from increasing their fares. We hope this would prove an effective incentive to these operators to decide against using the unpleasant option of fare rises.

But given what has come to be observed as the private bus operators' Shylockian tenacity to extract maximum profit from day to day operations, we wonder whether these concessions would be grabbed with glee by them.

If public reactions to such fare rises are assessed carefully, it could be elicited that what offends the commuters most about such cost of living nail pricks is that they do not get value for money from private bus operators.

This truth is by no means a recent revelation. Ever since the private bus sector came into operation, the commonest complaint against it is that its commuters are not being treated by these bus operators with even a measure of civility. However, increased bus fares are slapped on commuters with no care for the consequences, with a greed that knows no bounds.

This state of affairs shouldn't take anyone by surprise because the profit motive rarely blends comfortably with public service. Nevertheless, public welfare should be a concern of the State and we draw the attention of the Government to the need to ensure purse-easy, comfortable public transport for the people.

Successive governments since 1977 were seen as tamely pandering to the global financial institutions' dictates on these issues but the people, clearly, cannot be left at the mercy of unrelenting profit-seekers. To the extent possible, the public transport system needs to be revived and rendered sensitive to public needs.

Even in countries which are commonly regarded as the standard bearers of Laissez Faire capitalism, essential public services, such as State run bus services, are continuing to thrive. The underlying assumption is that the poor cannot be allowed to be exploited by the powerful few.

So, although private capital has come to be regarded as the "Engine of growth", the State cannot abandon its obligations towards the indigent majority who find themselves outside the enclaves of prosperity. The people's dependence on public transport is exceedingly high. Besides, it is they who help produce the wealth of the State.

Accordingly, the State is morally obliged to go to the people's assistance.

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