With grim humour, the Karnataka State Transport Corporation has launched a campaign to save its buses.

Under Rajendra Kumar Kataria, managing director of the transport service, the department on Tuesday organised a “funeral procession” of buses that were charred during the recent agitation by the garment factory workers.

Early last month, the city was nearly brought to a standstill for a few days when the workers began a protest against the new Provident Fund rules. KSRTC’s seven buses were torched during the agitation and many more were damaged.

At Tuesday’s event, named ‘It’s My Bus’, KP Ratna, General Secretary of the Karnataka Garment Worker Union, apologised for the loss. “We realise that it is our responsibility to safeguard public property,” she said. “At the same time, we would also like our grievances to be redressed.”

While the immediate trigger for the event was the losses at the workers’ agitation, Kataria says that buses are the first targets of any riot.

“If India is following a Make-In- India campaign, why are they adopting a Damage-In-India approach? Riots are not exclusive to Karnataka alone. Take for instance the buses that were burnt during the Patel agitation in Gujarat and the various Jat agitations. These buses could have served a few more years if they weren’t torched. The public are funding these buses by paying tax, and if they destroy these buses, it is ultimately their own loss,” Kataria told City Express.

This campaign, where the charred buses were on display also at Kempegowda Bus Station on Tuesday at 11 am, was to create awareness among the public against burning buses during protests. The event was a mark of respect for the buses that were rendered immobile during the protests. The event was attended by State Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy.

The burnt buses were towed from Peenya bus station to Kempegowda Bus Station (KBS). In two days, they will be towed to the Mysuru bus station from KBS. KSRTC plans to document this ceremony and then screen it at various bus stops across the state, and subsequently the country, to prevent bus burning in future.

At KBS, the buses were wreathed and decorated in banners carrying slogans such as “Respect and value your own property” and “Destruction is your own loss.”

After the exhibition of the buses, there was a street play and display of paintings.

Then Ramalinga Reddy addressed the audience: “We are not against protests, but we request the public to protest peacefully. Only in India it is fashionable to damage public property to express agitation. It is akin to throwing stones at one’s own house.”

People were requested to sign a petition supporting the cause.

Our bus was on the way to Shivamogga via Jalahalli when the garment factory workers’ agitation started. The mob started pelting stones and I suffered a few minor injuries. There were 20-30 passengers who were made to alight while the bus was set on fire, and the passengers then had to board a different bus.

Syed Khalander, Bus driver

We are here to apologise for our mistake. We realise that it is our responsibility to safeguard public property. At the same time, we would also like our grievances to be redressed. K P Ratna, General secretary, Karnataka Garment Workers Union

Like any other initiative, this campaign will take some time to gain momentum. However, the first step in the right direction has been taken, and there is a long way to go. A Sheriff, Visitor at the event