Mumbai: Prolonged bus strike has forced elders indoors

MUMBAI: Among the segments most severely affected by the BEST strike are senior citizens and pensioners who conserve financial resources, and cannot walk on Mumbai's potholed roads either.

Iqbal Singh Bedi (70) from Lokhandwala Complex visits the gurdwara at Four Bungalows three or four times a week. “It is a routine I have established after retirement. We meet like-minded elders and also focus on religion and seva, which we could not do during our working life. But I have been forced to avoid going there this past week. Each trip costs Rs 30 by autorickshaw while the bus fare is Rs 10. The afternoons are idle, but what can I do?"

Retired teacher Madhu Bali from Deonar has been forced to stall shopping trips. “I am not earning anymore. I just made one trip to the doctor by auto last week because that was unavoidable. I enjoy walking, but the potholes and paver blocks are worrisome,” she said.

Ratan Chandnani of Sion Senior Citizens' Association said attendance dropped at Sunday’s meetup at SIES College owing to the strike. Anil Kaskhedikar of the All India Senior Citizens' Confederation said that elders are rather unhappy with the BEST strike. He said, “BEST is an essential public utility which must be functional at all times. A shutdown is not acceptable. There must be other ways of expressing protest. Senior citizens need to travel to the doctor, post office, government offices and cultural functions. How can pensioners afford rickshaws and taxis every time?"