Schoolgirls in Madhya Pradesh’s Sironj protested a sharp hike in concessional bus fares, prompting officials and the local MLA to intervene and secure a rollback.

A group of schoolgirls in Sironj, Vidisha district, staged a protest after private bus operators increased the concessional fare for school students from ₹10 to ₹25.

The students, many of whom travel daily from nearby villages, gathered at the Sironj bus stand after school hours and raised slogans demanding that the fare be restored.

The protest eventually led local officials and the area MLA to intervene, following which an agreement was reached to restore the concessional fare to ₹10.

Girls Travel From Villages

The protest involved students from a girls’ higher secondary school in Sironj. According to the newspaper report, many students travel around 10 to 15 km every day from nearby villages to attend school.

The proposed fare increase would have significantly increased their daily travel expenses, placing an additional financial burden on students and their families.

The students therefore gathered at the bus stand and demanded immediate action against the fare hike.

Students Raise Slogans

The protesters reportedly stood in front of a private bus and raised slogans including, “MLA-ji, lower the fare!”

Their demonstration attracted the attention of police and local officials, who reached the spot to prevent the situation from escalating.

Sub-divisional magistrate Om Narayan Badkul spoke with the students and assured them that their concerns would be examined.

MLA Joins Intervention

Sironj MLA Umakant Sharma also reached the bus stand after learning about the protest. He was participating in a nearby Tiranga Yatra at the time.

The MLA joined officials in discussions with private bus operators over the fare issue.

Following the intervention, the operators agreed to restore the concessional school fare to ₹10, providing immediate relief to the students.

Operators Cite Rising Costs

Private bus operators reportedly defended the proposed fare increase by pointing to rising operational costs.

However, they accepted the administration’s intervention and agreed to roll back the higher fare after officials highlighted the immediate financial burden on school-going students.

The resolution allowed students to continue using the concessional fare without the additional ₹15 charge.

Dipke Amplifies Protest

The protest also gained attention on social media after Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijit Dipke shared a video of the demonstration on his X account.

The video reportedly showed students gathered at the Sironj bus stand after school hours. Dipke linked the protest to his earlier activism surrounding the NEET-UG paper leak and described the students’ demonstration as an example of youth-led action.

His post drew attention to the local dispute and the students’ demand for affordable transport.

Demand for Student Relief

MLA Umakant Sharma said he had written to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav seeking further relief for schoolchildren, including special fare concessions and bus passes.

The Sironj episode has highlighted the importance of affordable public transport for students who travel from rural areas to schools in towns.

The rollback also demonstrated how a local protest by schoolgirls can prompt administrative intervention when rising transport costs threaten access to education. The Sironj bus fare protest has consequently emerged as a notable local example of youth-led civic action in Madhya Pradesh.