City schools fail to own up private bus facility

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 13

Students commuting to school in private buses have always been facing a problem as many times as schools fail to take responsibility of such buses.

The private bus operators use the name of the schools on their buses and also display their phone numbers, but the schools do not want to take the responsibility of the private bus operators. This gives rise to a question that who permitted them to display the school’s name on their vehicles?

In the past also, many incidents came to the fore where students were injured, while traveling or getting down from the school bus, but schools shy away from their responsibility by saying that the bus operators are private.

Amit Shardha, whose son studies in Class II in a private school near Jalandhar bypass got injured while getting out of school bus opposite his house.

“No conductor or attendant accompanied him while crossing the road. He was hit by a running motorbike. My son got injury on his chest and hands. The same incident took place when he was in Nursery class. He got stitches near his eyes,” said Shardha.

After both the incidents, the parents approached the school authorities, but no concrete action was taken. They asked the driver to appoint a conductor. But it could be continued only for a few days.

“We are just concerned about the safety of the kids. We even requested the principal to let the buses stand inside the campus, but they refused. The school owned bus does not come till our home. Hence, we are forced to hire a private operator,” she said.

Principal of BCM Public School, Paramjeet Kaur, when was asked about her opinion in this regard said the schools fully owe the responsibility of the private bus operators too.

Directions of Supreme Court for school buses

• ‘School bus’ must be written on the front and back of the bus. 
• If it is hired then ‘On School Duty’ should be written.
• There must be first aid box.
• A fire extinguisher should also be there in the bus. 
• Doors should be fitted with locks.
• Windows of the bus must have horizontal grills. 
• There must be an attendant in the school bus.
• School name and phone number should be written on the bus.