Kochi: As part of the school reopening, the Kochi City Police has made elaborate arrangements and given strict instructions to the parents, school authorities, staff of the school vehicles and other vehicles carrying children to ensure a safety of the students in the new academic year.
Parents have been advised not to allow taking their children in vehicles beyond the number allowed by the law and inform police if such incidents take place. If the workers in the vehicles including drivers misbehave with children, it should be promptly informed to the police. Both parents and guardians and authorities concerned should ensure that the workers and drivers in the vehicles which take children are not involved in criminal and POCSO cases. School authorities should ensure police clearance certificates for such people.
At the beginning of the academic year itself, the vehicles which carry students should be subjected to police security check. All vehicles should conform to the security stipulations mandated by the Motor Vehicles Department. The vehicles should not over speed and such instances should be informed to the police or any other authorities. All buses that conduct services should stop at bus stops and take students carefully. If private buses fail to take students by stopping at the bus stops or create problems for them while travelling, action will be taken against them. Parents should tell the students to obey the instructions given by the police official posted in front of the school.
The bus drivers should wear uniform with a school badge and it is the duty of the school authorities to ensure this. A register should be kept at the school with complete details of the daily trip along with address and phone number of the bus drivers.
The city police has also asked to cut down trees or the branches of the trees that pose threat to the school or students. The school authorities are also asked to ensure the safety of the school buildings and walls before the students enter.
According to S Surendran, District Police Chief, Kochi City, the school vehicles or the vehicles carrying students, violating the rules will be immediately seized and action will be taken against the drivers and school authorities.
