Bengaluru: Despite the current crackdown by the city traffic police and enforcement wing of the state transport department, the problem of the safety of school children being transported by school buses still remains answered. Even though ferrying students to school in private vehicles is banned, in most parts of the city, especially in the residential areas, this ban is being violated openly.
To make things worse, tens of buses/vans devoid of even basic safety and security measures are being used to transport the students in the name of private contract, with parents entrusting the safety of their children in the hands of frequently reckless drivers.
According to the city traffic police as well as the transport department officials, they spend a lot of time every day, chasing the private vehicles which are used illegally to carry students to school.
“Visit any school campus in morning or afternoon and you will see scores of private vans/ cars waiting for students. Basically these cars and vans are used to transport students. Drivers/owners student collect Rs 300 to Rs 400 per month from every student and up to 20 students are transported at a time. It’s easy money for the owners. It also means an affordable transport service for the parents. By doing this it is the students who compromise on their safety,” explained an officer from the transport department.
But the problem doesn’t end here. Thousands of parents use the services of mini buses through an agreement with the drivers-cum-owners. Even though these school vans have a yellow body, most of the safety guidelines, including proper seating arrangement, fixed number of students, presence of a female assistant and of a first-aid box, are not provided. “Many drivers use vehicles older than 10 years, claiming to have a fitness certificate,” he explained.
Use of unauthorised vehicles have come down, claim police
Transport and traffic police deny allegations that stringent safety guidelines prescribed by the Supreme Court are not applicable to private vehicles and school vans. They say that all vehicles, including those ferrying schoolkids, which violate the guidelines, are booked and a hefty fine is imposed.
According to a traffic police officer, in most parts of the city, most private vehicles have stopped carrying students following the stringent crackdown by the traffic police. “In residential areas, a few may be using private vehicles. But in major circles/roads, this practice has been totally stopped. Following the aggressive campaign launched by us, today the use of autos to transport students has also come down,” he said.
But in reality, in the majority of the areas of the city, private vehicles and mini buses/vans are being used to transport students. Those vans which are not attached to any school and which are transporting students to multiple schools are flouting the rules openly. Absence of a lady assistant, non-availability of a first-aid box, students proportionate to the number of seats — all these are being violated. Wooden seating arrangements are put in place to accommodate more students.
“Traffic police have initiated action against the highest number of vehicles on charges of violation of safety guidelines, this year. The transport department has also seized hundreds of vehicles across the city,” said a traffic police officer.
According to Mr. D Shashikumar, general secretary, Associated Manage ments of Government Recognised English Medium Schools in Karnataka (KAMS), the transport department should implement uniform rules for all the vehicles which transport students. “As we need to follow all the stringent guidelines, we may not be able to provide cheap transport facilities. But those who violate the rules, manage to escape action against them and more parents prefer them,” he said.
“More conditions means more corruption before issuing permission. The need of the hour is: a uniform set of rules and regulations for all those who are engaged in this service,” he wound up.
Limitless carrying capacity and how!
- Most of the private vehicles carry nearly three times the number of students as against their actual seating capacity.
- The most frequently used private vehicle for transporting students is the Maruti van. But facilities like first-aid box, and emergency exit are not provided. Another hazard is that a majority of these vans are LPG-fuelled.
- Private operators never use the services of a lady assistant, calling into question the safety of female students.
