It is welcome that the Madras High Court has taken note of schoolchildren travelling in unsafe conditions while using public transport based on photographs published in the media which showed schoolchildren travelling not only on the footboards of government buses but also standing on window frames holding on to the roof (Some editions, “Why no special buses for schoolchildren asks HC”, November 24).
In the U.S., government schools admit children who reside in and near the locality concerned and school bus services are available to students who live beyond a few kilometres. Traffic wardens and the police control traffic before the opening and closing hours of schools. Priority is given to school buses and the safety of children is more or less ensured.
In India, there seems to be very little control over the way children travel to and from school.
A.J. Rangarajan,
Chennai
