Sharmila Gandhi, a differently able woman from Tirupur was verbally abused by private bus conductor yesterday for asking him to tender change for the ticket she purchased to travel to Coimbatore from Tirupur.

Sharmilla has issued a complaint to the K. Rajamani, District Collector of Coimbatore concerning this issue. Sharmila travels to Coimbatore from her home town Tirupur, to sell stationery articles in government offices and is supporting her sister’s education through this income.

She stated that she was travelling from Townhall to D.S.P bus stop in 9A route bus (TN 34 3999), and had handed over Rs 10 and sought Rs 4 as change because the ticket cost was Rs 6.

When she had requested the balance , the conductor had asked her to write down the balance amount at the back of the ticket and get it from him tomorrow. Sharmilla however explained that she couldnt travel from Tiruppur for receiving this four rupees and could also not forfeit the money because of her poverty.

This riled the bus conductor and he resorted to verbal abuse and passed sexist and misogynistic remark like “you should not posses this much attitude being a woman”. Following this she was dropped off at the DSP bus stop without giving her the change.