Past few months have been
a period of ongoing unrest for me. Rather I would say for most of the parents
whose children avail school transport services. On news channels, in
newspapers, one can find n number of cases where negligence of school
authorities led to the death of innocent children.
My son has just turned 7.
He was happy that now he gets the opportunity to be a bus traveller like his
cousin (who is 9 and had been telling my little one the tales about time he
spends in school bus with his friends). I too sighed a relief knowing there
were no pick n drop issues. I could have my morning tea with peace, read the
newspaper without being disturbed and happily drop my kid to the bus stop
outside our society gates; the very fact that he was in safe hands relaxed me a
bit further.
My happiness was short
lived or rather, say just about a week. Least did I know my fairy tale days
were about to end in a deep regret. My son was endless with complaints, a
regular being the ac of the bus was never working; and the other being 10
minutes late arrival of the bus in the afternoon. I dreaded the mornings when I
had to drop my son to the bus stop. He would cry hysterically almost every day
and beg me to consider making him a walker again. I started counselling him on
the issue. And the facts that I learnt were quite disturbing. The driver drives rashly in the afternoons as
the bus usually leaves the school premises 10 to 15 minutes late than its usual
time; the driver of his bus once banged the bus (later I got to know that his
licence was ceased by the parents where the incident happened and he was beaten
up badly). More to my astonishment the lady guard misbehaved with me and abused
me for asking why the bus was 40 minutes late than its arrival time and why were
we not informed for the same (though she was replaced the next day after my
complaint, yet there were other issues that needed attention). There were 5
teachers in the bus who acted as mere dummies to the whole drama and did not
even have the courtesy to apologize to a panicked parent.
That was the day I thought
to myself, if these are the kind of teachers who themselves cannot stand for a
cause, what knowledge and self belief are they going to impart to my son and
other children who witnessed the incident in the bus. I felt sorry for my son
that I had chosen a school with a brand than the one with values.
Life went by making my
mornings miserable until summer break started. Things were better as there was
no crying for school bus. Then one day before the school was to reopen I got a
call from the conductor of my son’s school bus. He fed me with the information
about the change in route and the new bus driver’s number; but had no clue of
the bus number or the route. I was taken aback! Why was the call not made by
the transport in charge or the class teacher herself? Why was only half
information passed on?
Later that day what
happened left me thinking, is my child really in safe hands? Standing at the
bus stop with no trace of bus till 3.40 pm, I panicked and feared almost the
worst. There was no information of bus delay from school. The bus that came for
pick up that day was not even his regular yellow colour school bus. It was a
traveller bus. No one was ready to take our calls, not even the school
authorities. All I knew was the bus broke down in the middle of nowhere. I
never felt helpless and clueless in my whole life as I felt today.
That’s it! I decided to
take things head on. I was tired of complaining about the flaws in school
transport system. I wanted strict measures to ensure the safety of my child. I
wanted a change! Talking to other parents and friends (kids going to different
schools) on the same issue made me feel how laid back our attitude is when it
comes to our child’s safety in school bus! Why? What do we fear? And what followed
next sent chills down my veins. ‘We don’t want problems for our children in the
school. What if we complain against the driver or the guards and they try to
harm our kids? What if their school grades suddenly start to drop just because
we had some issues with school security measures and we complained?’, came the
reply from most of the parents who pitied their situation by making themselves
feel powerless and helpless.
Really! I could not buy in
the points. It began a new chapter in my life. This gave me a cause to fight
for or at least raise my voice and be heard. It was not the question of just my
child now. It was for the whole lot of innocent children who travel in school
buses thinking they were safe. Were they!
As always google came to
my rescue. I began my search to know if there were any transport safety norms
that schools should adhere to. I stumbled on one news after the other about how
a school’s negligence took an innocent life and left behind grieving parents.
I promised myself I will
not hold my anger till a tragedy comes knocking my door. So I decided if I want
a change, I will be that change. After a thorough research of 3 days, my laptop
is full of articles and regulations on how Supreme Court has strict regulations
for schools to follow for providing transport. Even CBSE board also has some
transport safety norms that a school has to abide to before the affiliation.
Guessing that, like me, most
of you parents out there are unaware of the transport safety regulations laid
by both Supreme Court and CBSE board. So for your awareness and knowledge I
will pass on as much as I feel as a parent is our right to know. (copied and
pasted directly from the website: http://cbseaff.nic.in/cbse_aff/Circulars/cir_school_trans_2012.pdf)
CENTRAL BOARD OF
SECONDARY EDUCATION (An Autonomous Organization under the Union Ministry of Human
Resource Development Govt. of India)
“SHIKSHA KENDRA”, 2, COMMUNITY
CENTRE, PREET VIHAR, DELHI – 110 301 CBSE/AFF/Circular /2012 8th June, 2012
Circular No.01/2012
All the
Principals of Schools affiliated with the CBSE
ANNEXURE IX
Transport precautions
to be observed by Schools
A. Exterior of
the Bus
•
All the school buses must be painted with uniform colour preferabbly Yellow
with the name of the school written prominently on both sides of the bus so
that these can be identified easily.
•
The word “School Bus” must be written on the back and front of the bus. If it
is hired bus, “On School Duty” should be clearly indicated.
•
Telephone number of the school and/or telephone number of any contact person
shall also have to be written prominently in a prominent place in each school
bus so that in case of necessity the public can inform the school
authority/police or other authorities.
B. Fixture and
furniture of the Bus
•
The windows of Bus should be fitted with horizontal grills and with mesh
wire.
•
The doors of the Bus should be fitted with reliable locks that can be locked.
•
All school buses must be fitted with speed control devices so that they do
not exceed the speed limit of 40 Kmph.
•
There should be a fire extinguisher in the Bus
C. Manpower in
the Bus
•
There must be a qualified attendant in the Bus to attend to Children.
•
Each school should designate one Transport Manager/ Coordinator who will
ensure the safety of the school children.
•
The provision shall also to be made by the school authorities for travelling
of at least one teacher in each school bus, keeping in view the safety of the
school students all through out the journey and no outsider except the
conductor or the said authorized teacher or one person authorized by the
guardians shall be allowed to board school bus. • Medical check up regarding
the physical fitness of the driver including the eye testing shall be made
every year.
D. Facilities in
the Bus
• Bus should have a First Aid Box. • To keep the school bags safely, there
should be a space fitted under the seatsor as convenient. • The buses should
be fitted with alarm bell/siren so that in case of emergency every one can be
alerted.
E. Permits • The driver
should have valid licence and at least 5 years of experience of driving heavy
vehicles. • A driver who has been challaned more than twice in a year for
offences like red light jumping, violation of lane discipline or allowing
unauthorized person to drive cannot be employed. • A driver who has been
challaned even once for the offence of over speeding, driving dangerously or
for the offences under Section 279,337,338 and 304A of the Indian Penal Code
cannot be employed. • Every vehicle shall carry a suitable photograph of the
authorized driver duly certified by the RTA. • Periodical fitness certificate
regarding road worthiness of the vehicle shall have to be obtained. • Any
school authority and/or driver found to have violated the provision of the
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the rules framed thereunder as well as of the
directions must be penalized.
F.Arrangements in
the Schools
•
All the affiliated schools will make safe arrangement for boarding and
deboarding of school children from the school bus.
•
The school authority shall ensure that the doors of the buses remain shut
while in running condition.
•
They will ensure that buses halt only at bus stops designated for the purpose
and within the marked area.
•
Refresher course of driver training so as to fine tune and increase the
proficiency of the driver shall be given to the drivers of the school buses
periodically, i.e. least twice in a year.
•
No person shall be allowed to drive the school bus in drunken condition.
Regular check in the respect shall be undertaken by the school authorities
and in case of any doubt in that regard such drivers must be subjected to
medical test immediately and proper action including the action for
cancellation of the license have to be taken.
•
All drivers of the school buses have to be dressed in a distinctive uniform
with their names inscribed in it.
•
In every school bus there shall be another qualified person to keep attending
children travelling in such buses, as conductor, who have to be dressed in
distinctive uniform with their names inscribed in it.
•
The school authority must provide one set of mobile phone in each school bus
so that in case of emergency the bus can be contacted or the driver/conductor
can contact the police or State authority as well as the school authority.
•
The authority shall ensure that the school buses are not permitted to over
take any other four wheelers while carrying the school children in the bus.
•
The School authority shall ensure that the students maintain discipline when
boarding and disembarking the bus so that no children get hurt.
•
Effort shall be made by the school to make necessary arrangement for parking
the school bus inside the school campus at least at the time of boarding and
disembarking. In case it is not possible to park such vehicle inside the
school campus, the buses must be parked in such a way so that it does not
create any traffic problem for other vehicles.
•
The school should encourage its children to conduct programmes through play,
exhibition etc. during Road Safety Week to create an awareness in public.
•
Periodic feed-back from students using school Transport facility with regards
to driver/conductor be taken and records are to be maintained.
*****************************
|
According to my research
and knowledge, these norms were passed in the year 2012. Biggest failure was
the implementation of the same.
Every year there were new
additions in the regulations. Many private schools did not pay any heed to
execute the regulations stated and no strict actions by the government against
those schools, made it easier for school authorities to slip away with
unfortunate incidents that happened due to transport security flaws.
This year (2016) has
already been a witness to many unfortunate incidents of student’s death due to
school negligence. Considering which the Haryana Government has formulated “Surakshit School Vahan
Policy” to ensure safer transportation of school going children in the
state. This policy was framed and discussed to be implemented from April.
Under the scheme, it was agreed that the district level committees
and the sub-division level committees would ensure that the buses
carrying school children complied with the mandatory requirements as
per provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and rules
framed thereunder, and also adhere to the directions issued by various
courts
regarding safer transportation of school going children.
regarding safer transportation of school going children.
Direction of the Supreme Court of India for School Bus under ‘Surakshit
School Vahan Policy’
• "School Bus" must be
written on the back and front of the Bus.
• If it is a hired bus, "On School
Duty" should be clearly indicated
• Bus must have a First-Aid-Box.
• The windows of Bus must be fitted
with horizontal grills.
• There must be a Fire Extinguisher in
the Bus.
• School Name and Telephone No. must be
written on the Bus.
• The doors of the Bus should be fitted
with reliable locks.
• To keep School Bags safely, there
should be a space fitted under the seats.
• There must be an Attendant from the
School in the Bus. School cabs should be fit with speed governors with maximum
speed limit of 40 kmph.
• The body of school cab shall be
highway yellow colour with a horizontal strip in green colour of 150mm width in
the middle all around the vehicle and the words ‘SCHOOL CAB’ must be
prominently displayed on all four sides of the vehicle.
• If age of school children is below 12
years, the number of children carried shall not exceed 1½ times the permitted
seating capacity. Children above 12 years shall be treated as one person.
• The driver of a school cab must have
valid licence to drive LMV-Transport Vehicles for a period of at least four
years and compulsorily wear a light blue shirt, light blue trousers and black
shoes. His name ID be displayed on the shirt.
• There must be enough space provided
to keep school bags inside the vehicle and the bags should not be hung outside
the vehicle or placed on roof carriers.
• The bus driver must carry a complete
list of the children being ferried in the school cab, indicating the name,
class, residential address, blood group and the points of stoppage, route plan,
etc.
• In case of kindergarten, if an
authorized person recognised mutually by the school and parents, does not come
to pick the child from the halting points and such, the child shall be taken
back to the school and their parents should be called.
Latest Additions
Because of the incidents happening
around there have been rules made on school bus management by the concerned
authorities in India to assure safety and secure ride for the students and
relief for parents.
·
GPS and CCTV have been made compulsory
in school buses. Installation of CCTV in school premises are made compulsory. GPS has been declared compulsory by Central
Board of Secondary Education.
·
School bus drivers are restricted to
have interaction with students beyond a limit in school bus and socializing
with students is also limited.
·
Entering school grounds are restricted
to authorized people. Any person suspicious entering the school premises will
be reported without fail.
·
ID cards are issued to parents, which
must be bought while picking up their children. If they cannot come for picking
up their children, an SMS must be send authorizing another person to pick them
up.
Under section 188 Act of the Indian Penal Code, any failure on the
school’s behalf to obey these new rules and regulations can lead to punishment.
More and more rules are coming in to
light for the better travel experience of students.
Standard Requirements for School Buses in India
·
All school buses in India are mandated
to have an external colour of Golden Yellow. This colour shall be as per IS 5
-1994 (as amended from time to time)
·
For Identification, a band of 150mm
wide of ‘Golden Brown ‘colour might be provided on all sides of the bus below
the window level
·
Two emergency exits are mandatory on
all school buses in India. One on the rear half of the bus on the right hand
side and on the rear side of the bus. Children should be trained to operate
these doors.
·
Whenever the bus passenger door or one
of the emergency exits is open, the bus should be incapable of motion. The
driver should get an indication of the doors being open by means of flashing
light/buzzer or other suitable means.
·
The lowest footstep height shall not be
more than 220mm from ground. The bus should be incapable of motion without
folding or retracting the steps
·
All seats other than the ones facing
the passenger step well should be forward facing. Also, a partition
should be provided to the seat facing the step well.
·
Stopping signals, a hazard warning and
a stop signal arm should operate whenever the passenger door opens.
·
A tamper-proof speed governor that
complies with the requirements of Rule 118 of CMV (A)R 1989 should be provided
to ensure the driver doesn’t cross the speed limit.
Any parent/guardian or a teacher may also travel to ensure these safety
norms.
Gathering the information was easier. Thanks
to my love for computers and my interest in google to raise my awareness on the
same; and now yours to an extent. But this is just the beginning. Break through
would come when more and more parents will become aware of their right to
demand safety for their children in school and the school transport system; when
more and more parents would be willing to listen to their children, acknowledge
their problems and notify the school administration of
any offence or negligence from the driver.
Time and again I have heard the quote or read it somewhere, sometime ‘Be
the change you want to see in the world’. I have tried my best to be that
change by raising my voice on the most sensitive issue ‘our children and their
security in schools’. The least you can do to see things change for good is to
share this article, raise awareness among other parents, become the voice of
your child if and when a situation arise.
Don’t wait for the tragedy to come knocking your door. Don’t wait for
the candle march’s to get justice for your children.
Wake up now! Be the Change to See the World Change!
