Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB/EP)
Udupi, May 17: Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis chaired a meeting at her office on Tuesday, May 15, wherein she outlined the safety measures and other prerequisites that need to be complied with by school authorities, and vehicles transporting school children.
The DC said that the drivers should be provided training in safe driving. “The drivers should hold the requisite driving license and conduct necessary background checks before their appointments by the schools. The RTO should conduct a revision class of drivers of all school vehicles,” she said.
“The vehicles that ferry school children should have a vehicle insurance, vehicle fitness certificate, first aid box, emergency exit door and other emergency facilities for the safety of children in case of accidents. The vehicles should be painted yellow with 'school bus' written on all the four sides of it. The vehicles should have a speed governor and maintain a good condition. The number of children being ferried should be within specified limits,” she said.
“Owners, drivers and schools should compulsorily follow all rules meant for the safe conveyance of school children in their vehicles,” said the DC.
'Drive slow and safe'
“Vehicle drivers should not compete with other during monsoons. They should safely reach the children to their school and house. The addresses of children travelling in the vehicles, their emergency contact details and telephone numbers should be held by the respective school. It may not be possible for children to reach school during specified timings during monsoons. Hence, schools should not pressurize drivers and the children about time in such cases,” the DC said.
She asked the National Highway Authority to install sign boards near schools and places where school children travel. She asked the Highway Patrol to take action against vehicles that violate rules by driving on the wrong side.
Review of schools
“Children's safety committee meetings should be held in all the schools once in three months. Action taken and should be taken for the safety of children must be discussed in the meetings. All government and private schools will be visited, reviewed and graded on the basis of their implementation of children's safety measures, children's rights and Pocso act.
She asked education officers to obtain information from children regarding the dangerous pot holes, stone quarries and such other places and submit the details to the district administration. “Suitable precautions will be taken in such cases. Stone quarry owners have been served notices to build walls around the quarries," she added.
District RTO Gurumoorthi Kulkarni, DDPI Diwaker Shetty and representative of various educational institutes were present at the meeting.