Bala Vikas Foundation (BVF) has called upon the Transport Department to initiate strict measures to ensure the compliance of rules by school buses.
In a letter to the Deputy Transport Commissioner K. Sambasiva Rao, the foundation recalled the incident in which a school bus fell into a stream at Kothagudem mandal of Khammam district on March 20. The negligence of the driver, who allowed the cleaner to drive the bus, had resulted in the death of 14 children.
BVF founder Narava Prakasa Rao and Juvenile Justice Board member Abdul Raqueeb underlined the need to prevent such mishaps in future. The schools would reopen in June after the summer vacation. The school buses have to be inspected before the reopening of the schools and a ‘Fitness Certificate' should be issued before that based on the condition of the vehicle.
They noted that many schools were purchasing old buses from other states and converting them into school buses. There are no window grills for the buses of many schools and a number of students were being crammed into the buses in violation of the rules. The school managements were not following the norms in the appointment of drivers. Health check up was not being done for them once in every three months and orientation classes in driving were not being conducted for them.
They appealed to the DTC to initiate strict measures and uphold the right to life of children. They promised to cooperate with the Transport Department as representatives of NGOs.
