It has been made mandatory for children who are caught for underage driving to attend professional counselling conducted under the aegis of Our Responsibility to Children (ORC) project.
The decision will jointly be implemented by the police and the Motor Vehicle Department as part of tightening the rules in the sector.
As per the police decision, the children, who are caught in various such cases, will have to come for the counselling programme with one of their parents.
Counselling certificateThe vehicles seized in connection with the case will be released by the police and the Motor Vehicle Department only after producing the counselling certificate issued by the ORC project coordinators.
“So far we have conducted three such counselling programmes in the city. No fewer than 33 children from various locations attended the sessions,” said P.V. Asokan, one of the trainers of ORC.
He said the counselling would be arranged every month as an intervention programme.
The third such counselling session was held on Thursday at the Police Club.
Seven children and their parents participated in the drive.
The fathers of the children kept away from the programme but the mothers turned up to attend it.
Some of the children who attended the counselling confessed that they were riding two-wheelers and their parents did not object to it.
Some others revealed that their parents did not know they rode two-wheelers.
Regional Transport Officer Rajiv Puthalath and senior police officials were also present at the venue.
Strong driveMr. Puthalath said the drive against underage driving would be strengthened in the days to come and the parents would be held responsible for the act.
A fine of Rs.1,500 would be imposed in each case and the vehicle would be released only after producing the counselling certificate, he added.
