With the government cracking the whip from time-to-time on school bus owners for not implementing safety norms, the School Bus Owners Association (SBOA) has tried to draw the attention of the authorities to the safety norms being flouted by unauthorised and unregistered minivans and autorickshaw owners who ferry children.
According to Anil Garg, president of SBOA, though the authorities have been coming out with new safety measures, they have turned a blind eye to the flourishing business being done by private operators. “The minivans and other vehicles are not registered with any authority nor do they follow the norms laid down for school buses. In the event of one of our buses flouting any rules, we are fined and the licence of the drivers are confiscated; however no such rule is applicable for the private operators,” said Mr Garg.
He further added that as the rules were being flouted openly, the SBOA has decided to make a list of norms that are being flouted so that the authorities can take action or frame rules to bring the private operators also under the purview of school bus safety norms.
Some of the rules being flouted included not having permission from school authorities, drivers not registered with the police, no supervisor being present in the vehicle and students being packed into the bus beyond its seating capacity. Mr Garg added that the unauthorised vehicles do not undergo regular tests, as a result of which the vehicles can pose a threat to the lives of the students.
“We have no complaints against the government for making stringent rules for school buses as they are for the safety of the students. However, the same rules and emotions should be applied for all service providers. We have submitted the list of flouted norms to the government and hope they take action for the safety of the students against them too,” said Mr Garg.
An official from the transport department that regulates school buses said that they were yet to receive the list from SBOA but said that the safety rules in place applied to all service providers and steps were being taken to make the implementation uniform.
“The rules have made institution heads responsible for the transporters. Other rules are also aimed at increasing accountability of the transporters,” said the official. “Institution heads with the help and consultation of the parents can exercise control over the quality of transport,” he further added.
