‘Ensure school buses get way during protests’

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 11

To prevent harassment caused to schoolchildren, who remain stranded during road blockages due to protests and demonstrations, the Punjab State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights directed the Police Department and the district administration to ensure that a corridor be made for the smooth passage of school buses in the event of political, social and religious protests or demonstrations, on the lines of passage to ambulances.

The commission, which was made the nodal agency for the implementation of the Punjab Safe School Vahan Policy by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, had written to the Chief Secretary, DGP as well as the Deputy Commissioners and Commissioners of Police in this regard.

Commission chairman Sukesh Kalia said in the event of political, social and religious sit-ins or demonstrations etc, traffic is halted, which also consists of school buses ferrying small schoolchildren, causing a lot of harassment and inconvenience to them. Their condition is aggravated in the extremes of weather.

During the recent sit-in by SAD, a number of school buses also got stuck. It was stated that as the administration knew in advance about such protest, directions for the creation of corridor or makeshift barricade at sideways for the passage of school buses be made for the safety and security of children. So far, such corridor is meant for ambulances during such occasions.

PRINCIPALSPEAK

It is a very good suggestion by the Child Rights Commission because during any protest, the safety of children is also at stake. It is important that children don't suffer any inconvenience in reaching school or going back home. —DP Guleria, Director, LSSC and Principal, BCM School, Sec-32

The suggestion is very good. Whenever there are any protests, we get worried as to how will our children reach home. But how far it will get implemented will have to be seen because even ambulances struggle to find way during such protests. For such decisions to materialise, even mindsets need to be changed and education of the masses is needed. —JK Sidhu, Principal, DAV School, BRS Nagar

Education is equally important as health. As ambulances are given way, school buses should also be allowed the same. Not only should the government ensure it, it is also the duty of the general public to give way to school buses. —Karnail Singh, Director-Principal, GGN Public School