A variety of opinions were expressed at the meeting of officials, school heads, drivers of autorickshaws, maxicabs and vans carrying schoolchildren, and non-governmental organisations here on Wednesday.
The meeting was held in the backdrop of the death of eight schoolchildren in a road accident at Trasi on June 21. Dinesh Hegde Ullepadi, advocate, said that block education officers should have the details of the routes of school buses in their blocks.
As there were complaints of high fees charged by school buses, the authorities should fix the bus fees depending on the distance. Tax exemption should be given to school buses, he said.
Ashok Kundapur, correspondent of Sandeepan School, Kambadakone, and Fr. John Walter, correspondent of St. Anthony’s School, Sastan, said that while school buses followed all safety norms on national highways, the other buses hardly did it. Speed governors were installed on school buses not private ones, they said.
Sunil from the Human Rights Federation said that though overspeeding by private buses was rampant on NH 66, action was not taken against them. “Why the police not keep barricades on NH 66 at Trasi on the way to the Don Bosco School?” he asked.
Y. Gangadhar Suvarna, who runs a school at Yellur, said that it was impossible for government officials to visit all schools in the district to check safety norms. The government should subsidize school bus travel for students in Udupi district, he said.
Raghupati Bhat, former MLA, and president of the District Taximen and Maxicabs Association, said that the authorities should be practical while implementing government guidelines.
Drivers of autorickshaws, vans and maxicabs ferried schoolchildren before and after school hours. After that they carry passengers.
“Suddenly stopping their services will hit their earnings and also inconvenience the parents. But nearly 60 per cent of private vehicles are ferrying schoolchildren, which is illegal,” he said. Vishweshwar Adiga, headmaster of Sandeepan School, suggested the creation of school bus stands on NH66 to avoid multiple picking points.
Gerald Crasta from Trasi said that private vehicles should be advised to give the same importance to school buses as given to ambulances on the roads.
Pramod Madhwaraj, Udupi district in-charge Minister, directed the Department of Public Instruction to send notices to schools not to fine either children or school bus drivers for being late for valid reasons. “Discipline should not be at the cost of lives of children,” he said.
K. Annamalai, Superintendent of Police, explained in detail the safety measures to be followed by school with regard to school buses, and other vehicles ferrying schoolchildren.
