Bus workers and owners at Nagerjala bus stand in Agartala on November 6 jointly extended financial help to Mina Jamatia, a college student from Amarpur, after she lost Rs 15,800 during her journey to Agartala, helping her pay the Rs 15,500 semester examination fees due that day at Kazi Nazrul Islam College in Nadia district of West Bengal.
At A Glance:
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Mina Jamatia lost Rs 15,800, including Rs 15,500 meant for her college semester examination fees, while travelling from Amarpur to Agartala.
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Bus workers and owners at Nagerjala bus stand collectively raised money to help her meet the fee payment deadline.
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The organisations handed over CCTV footage from the bus to the police and demanded strict action against those responsible.
A collective gesture by bus workers and owners at Agartala’s Nagerjala bus stand has brought relief to a financially struggling college student who lost her semester examination fees while travelling from Amarpur. The transport workers and owners raised money through their personal contributions and handed it over to the student, ensuring that she could meet the payment deadline.
The student, Mina Jamatia, had raised Rs 15,800 to meet her educational expenses. She had even sold ducks and chickens from her family home to arrange the money. However, her purse containing the cash went missing during her journey to Agartala.
The incident left Mina devastated. She had to deposit Rs 15,500 as her semester examination fees at Kazi Nazrul Islam College in West Bengal’s Nadia district. November 6 was the last date for payment, according to her account.
With no immediate means to replace the lost money, she approached representatives of the bus workers’ and owners’ organisations at Nagerjala bus stand. Their intervention eventually helped her overcome the immediate financial crisis.
Student Loses Rs 15,800 During Bus Journey
Mina, a resident of Amarpur, was travelling to Agartala with Rs 15,800 in her bag. Of this amount, Rs 15,500 was meant for her college semester examination fees. She had arranged the money through considerable personal and family sacrifices.
During the journey, the bus conductor asked her to pay the fare near Agartala University. Mina opened her bag and took out the money required for the fare.
However, after reaching Nagerjala bus stand and getting off the bus, she checked her belongings and discovered that her purse was missing.
She immediately realised that the money had disappeared. The loss was particularly distressing because she had sold the family’s ducks and chickens to collect the amount.
Mina was left helpless. With the deadline for depositing her semester fees falling on the same day, she feared that she would not be able to complete the payment.
Speaking about the incident, she confirmed that she had been carrying Rs 15,800, including Rs 15,500 for her examination fees. She also said that the bus workers’ and owners’ assistance had made it possible for her to pay the fees that day.
Nagerjala Bus Organisations Raise Money
After losing the money, Mina approached the leadership of the workers’ and owners’ organisations at Nagerjala bus stand.
Upon hearing her account, the representatives decided to help her immediately. They mobilised financial support through their respective organisations and personal initiatives.
A representative of the workers’ organisation said they immediately sent Mina to the AD Nagar Police Outpost after she approached them. They also contacted the officer-in-charge to discuss the incident.
During their interaction, the organisations learnt that Mina had lost Rs 15,500 meant for her college examination fees. They also came to know about her difficult family circumstances.
The representatives then coordinated with different organisations at Nagerjala bus stand. Workers and owners joined hands to collect the required amount.
They subsequently handed over the money to Mina to cover her examination fees and other essential expenses.
The representative said Mina came from a financially disadvantaged family. The organisations decided to act together after understanding the urgency of her situation.
Bus Associations Condemn Incident, Demand Police Action
While extending financial assistance to Mina, representatives of the bus workers’ and owners’ organisations also condemned the alleged theft.
They expressed concern over incidents targeting students and urged those responsible to refrain from such activities.
The representatives described students as the future of the state. They said passengers, particularly young students travelling for educational purposes, should be able to undertake their journeys without fear of such incidents.
They also called for greater vigilance among bus drivers and conductors. The organisations urged bus owners to ensure that CCTV cameras remain installed and operational in their vehicles.
According to the representatives, the bus in which Mina travelled had CCTV cameras. They collected the relevant footage and handed it over to the police for investigation.
The organisations also appealed to the police and the security administration to identify the person responsible and take stringent action without delay.
Humanitarian Gesture Offers Relief to Student
The incident has drawn attention to the difficulties faced by students from financially weaker families in pursuing higher education.
For Mina, losing Rs 15,800 was not merely a financial setback. It threatened her ability to meet an important academic deadline. The money represented the result of considerable effort and sacrifices by her family.
The timely intervention by the Nagerjala bus workers and owners helped her overcome that immediate challenge.
Their collective initiative also demonstrated how community organisations can support people facing unexpected hardships. The gesture has set an example of solidarity and compassion, while the police are expected to investigate the reported loss and examine the CCTV footage handed over by the bus organisations.
