Tamil Nadu: Although obesity has recently become an international problem, its impact is particularly pronounced on people traveling in public transport buses in Tamil Nadu. It is hoped that the Transport Corporation will take immediate action to address this issue.
The rate of obesity in India has been increasing compared to the last 10 years. In this regard, the Economic Survey presented in the Lok Sabha last June stated that the rate of obesity has tripled in the country, from youth to adults, and after Vietnam and Namibia, India is witnessing the highest increase in childhood obesity.
Statistics show that approximately 57.9% of people in Tamil Nadu are affected by obesity, which is higher than in other southern states. According to data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), the rate of overweight and obesity among women, especially adolescent girls, increased in Tamil Nadu during the period 2019-2021.
In this context, the obesity rate among urban men is 29.8 percent and among rural men is 19.3 percent. Obesity among men aged 18 to 69 has increased from 18.9 percent to 22.9 percent, and among women from 20.6 percent to 24 percent. Studies indicate that the prevalence of obesity in Tamil Nadu is 37 percent among men and 40.4 percent among women.
People suffering from obesity face many difficulties in public places. In particular, they have been facing the worst conditions on bus journeys for the past several years. This also causes difficulties for those sitting next to them.
In Tamil Nadu, approximately 20,260 buses are operated on 10,125 routes through 8 divisions of the State Transport Corporation. 1.76 crore people travel on these buses every day. Despite such a large number of people traveling, the main problem they face is the limited number of seats in the buses.
Generally, obesity was not a major problem before. However, it has now been revealed that 40-60 percent of people are overweight. This applies to both children and adults. When the number of overweight people was much lower, the number of seats in buses was sufficient.
These seats are approximately one and a quarter feet, or 15 inches wide. Only people with a 32-inch waist can sit comfortably in them. Currently, approximately 50 percent of people have a waist size greater than 36 inches. As a result, most people cannot sit comfortably on bus seats and travel with difficulty.
This problem arises because most short and long-distance buses have five seats in a row, with two seats followed by three seats, and a gap in between. However, in government express buses and luxury buses, which have two seats in a row and two more seats in the middle, with a gap between them, only four people can sit per row.
To widen the seats in buses, the width of the bus would also have to be increased. But to do this, the Motor Vehicles Standards Act would have to be amended. Instead, transport department officials say it is easier to reduce the number of seats and increase their width.
They suggest that the number of seats in a row in buses can be reduced from five to four, and the seat width can be increased from 15 inches to 20 inches. This would allow passengers to sit comfortably. Additionally, it would be easier for the conductor to move between the seats, and there would be more ventilation for standing passengers.
Previously, the height of the bus and the height of the seats were standard. Currently, the height of buses has been increased from 11 feet to 12 feet, and the seat height from 2 feet to 2.5 feet. However, the width of the bus remains 8 feet. Within these 8 feet, there are five seats per row, arranged as two and three.
Also, the space between the front and back seats is very limited. Consequently, the passenger sitting by the window in a three-seater row can only get out if the other two passengers get up and make way. This is often impossible when buses are crowded and the passengers are large.
The Motor Vehicles Standards Act in the country was enacted during the British era and has continued with minor modifications, the last significant amendment being in 1988-89. However, only the Motor Vehicles Act (rules) is frequently amended because it generates revenue for the government. Those working in this field say that the Motor Vehicle Standards Act has not been adapted to suit the roads, weather conditions, culture, and traditions of our country*\
