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Badge introduced to help pregnant passengers get seats on KCI trains
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A special badge for pregnant passengers of commuter line trains was launched on Wednesday, coinciding with National Customer Day. (Antara/Fakhri Hermansyah)
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mid the bustle of people getting off and boarding a commuter train at Central Jakarta’s Tanah Abang Station on Saturday, a security staff member on the train serving the Tanah Abang-Parung Panjang route, Mustamin, was eyeing passengers entering the car he was in charge of.
As all the seats were taken, some commuters had to stand, holding onto the hanging handles. Mustamin observed the passengers to identify any who deserved the priority seats provided at either end of the train cars. The seats are reserved for the elderly, pregnant women, people with disabilities and women with children.
“I often admonish people for not giving their seats to passengers in need,” Mustamin says, gazing away as he estimated how many people he had to ask to give up their seats: “Maybe two or three people in two working days.”
The number seems small thanks to the many aware passengers who would remind others to relinquish their seats for passengers in need.
However, commuter line operator PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI) still received complaints from pregnant passengers not getting a seat, especially those who are less than three months into their pregnancy.
Therefore, on Wednesday, coinciding with National Customer Day, KCI issued pink badges displaying the symbol of a pregnant woman to be used by expecting mothers during their commute.
KCI spokeswoman Anne Purba said the badge aimed to create awareness about the needs of pregnant women.
