: For many children, the day begins in potential hazard when they are packed into autorickshaws and sent to school.
In a blatant violation of rules, autorickshaws overloaded with school children are commonplace on the roads in Puducherry.
The rules state that a maximum of six children below 12 years of age can travel in one auto rickshaw, said Transport Commissioner S.D. Sundaresan.
“I have seen up to 15 children being loaded in one auto rickshaw. The fee is not reduced because there are more children. The auto drivers are unwilling to listen to parents. The Transport Department must ensure strict implementation of the law and have regular checks,” said Swamy, a parent.
D. Aravindraja, a teacher at the ASN Government Middle School, Mudaliarpet, said that in the case of working parents, some of them could be unaware that the auto rickshaws are overloaded. “I came to know my daughter’s auto rickshaw was taking 8 children instead of three as I had believed, only when she complained of leg pain. I have since changed the transport arrangement,” he said. “A couple of months ago I had witnessed an accident involving an overloaded auto rickshaw with school kids. It was also over speeding. Thankfully, it was not a major mishap. On quite a few occasions, I have advised auto drivers when I see overloaded auto rickshaws. Some of them have justified saying they do not make enough money otherwise,” he added.
A. Britto, principal, Amalorpavam Higher Secondary School said the responsibility lies with the parents as they can insist auto drivers to not indulge in overloading. “It has to be safety first. We have advised parents several times on the risks of an overloaded auto rickshaw, only some listen. The traffic police have conducted safety awareness campaigns in our school as well. Around 30 percent of parents do not seem concerned about safety,” he said. Mr. Britto also dismissed the idea that parents could be unaware of how many students take an auto.
“We have been told we can carry up to 8 children, but must not seat any of them in the driver’s seat,” said one of the auto drivers plying students from a private school. When asked about how many students he was transporting, he answered 10.
“The extra two students are for a very short distance,” he said.
He also confirmed the parents did not know there were 10 children taking the auto rickshaw.
While there are routine checks by staff of the Transport Department, many cases of overloaded auto rickshaws go unchecked, admitted Mr. Sundaresan.
However, he promised to take up the issue. “All stakeholders, schools, parents and even the auto rickshaw drivers must ensure that students are not put at risk,” he said.
