Parents will not pay: Mohali DC

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, May 23

Mohali Deputy Commissioner Tejinder Pal Singh SIdhu directed private school managements and school bus operators in the area to bear the expenses for the installation of CCTV cameras/GPS or other advanced gadgets on school buses.

The Mohali Deputy Commissioner made the point very clear in the recently held meeting with the bus operators. “My directions to the local private school authorities and the bus operators are very clear that the parents should not be burdened for such expenses,” said Sidhu.

“Safety of children is the prime duty of the school authorities and the bus operators. Now, they have been asked to install advanced gadgets like CCTVs and GPS in the buses for which they should not charge an extra amount from the parents. If such complaints come to me, strict action will be taken against the guilty,” said the DC.

Notably, several schools in Chandigarh have already started charging extra money from the parents for the installation of the gadgets in question. A bus operator of a renowned school of Sector 26 in Chandigarh has already charged Rs 700 from each student, who ply on the school bus.

Mohali Deputy Commissioner also said that regular training sessions of school/college bus drivers and conductors would be conducted. 

During the training session,  the bus staff would be taught how to behave with girls students, children and women. 

“We have already given the deadline of July 1 to all schools for appointing female attendants in every bus that ferries girl students from schools to their homes,” said Sidhu.