The issue came to light after a Class 5 tribal student was forced to get off an ST bus because his pass had expired. The child had to walk 2 to 3 kilometers in the rain to reach home. Though the incident happened nearly 20 days ago, the bus conductor reportedly faced no disciplinary action, according to Chhatra Bharati.
In a strongly worded open letter to Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, Chhatra Bharati president Rohit Dhale pointed to the deep inequality between rural and urban students. The letter highlights how the minister gifted his grandson a luxury Tesla car to commute to school, while children in rural areas are denied basic transportation.
“It's understandable that a grandfather would want to fulfill his grandson’s wish,” said Dhale. “But as a minister, Sarnaik has a greater responsibility to ensure that millions of students from rural, tribal, and suburban areas aren't denied their right to education due to transport issues.”
The group has demanded that the state government immediately implement free ST passes for students and issue strict guidelines to prevent mistreatment of student commuters by transport staff.
In the Mumbai region, this demand could significantly impact students from Kalyan, Dombivli, Vasai-Virar, Panvel, Palghar, and Raigad, many of whom rely on state buses to reach schools and colleges in the city and suburbs.
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The group urged the minister to shift focus from “symbolic gifts” to systemic support that ensures every child, regardless of geography or income, can access education with dignity.
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