Student organisation Chatra Bharti has appealed to the state government to provide free State Transport (ST) bus passes to students across Maharashtra, citing the struggles faced by children from rural and farming communities who depend on public transport to reach schools and colleges.

The demand gained momentum after a recent incident in Chhada taluka, where a Class 5 student, Badal Rajaram Barela, was reportedly forced to get off an ST bus because his pass had expired. The boy was then compelled to walk two to three kilometers in the rain to reach home. Despite the matter being reported nearly 20 days ago, no action has been taken against the bus conductor involved, the organization claimed.