School van drivers protest outside DC's office

Accuse police of targeting them, demand withdrawal of cases against them after Trasi tragedy

Dakshina Kannada Shaala Makkala Vahana Chalakara Sangha, Mangaluru, staged a protest in front of the deputy commissioner’s office here on Tuesday seeking fulfilment of their various demands.

Addressing the protesters, leader Sunil Kumar Bajal said the police should withdraw cases registered against all school vehicles transporting schoolchildren. “In a tragic incident at Trasi, eight children had lost their lives. The district administration, the state government and the police department should seriously discuss the issue and find a suitable solution to check such mishaps. Instead, the authorities have started targeting the poor vehicle drivers. Following the incident, the police have started stopping the vehicles in the name of inspection and are filing unnecessary cases. Exorbitant fines are collected from the drivers, if found overloaded,” he said.

The protesters said the number of schoolchildren accommodated in a vehicle should be fixed scientifically. “It should be maximum 10 in autorickshaws, 16 in Omni van, 18 in Eeco and 35 in maxicabs. The rule that private vehicles transporting schoolchildren should have a distinct highway yellow colour should be withdrawn. The vehicles should be allowed to park in the school ground of every school,” they said.

‘Convene meetings’

Convener Gangadhar Rai said, “In the interest of the safety of schoolchildren, the school management, parents and school vehicle drivers’ joint meeting should be convened once in three months compulsorily. Schoolchildren’s safety task force should be constituted under the guidance of school headmaster/ headmistress.”

The protesters said, “RTO officials had clarified that autorickshaws can accommodate eight children and omni with 14 schoolchildren in a meeting with the school vehicle drivers, three years ago. Now, again forcing the drivers to paint the vehicle with yellow is unscientific. With yellow colour, the drivers cannot earn for their living. The schools function only 10 months in a year. How can the drivers earn their livelihood for two months when the schools have holidays. If yellow colour is painted, then the vehicle owners will have to pay a huge amount of tax. Will the school vehicles get exemption from taxes?” they asked.

The protesters submitted a memorandum to the district administration on the occasion.

Priority to safety

At a separate meeting convened by MLA J R Lobo on Monday, he said priority should be given to the safety of schoolchildren.

He said all should work in coordination. The government has framed rules in the interest of the children. The officials and elected representatives can help only within the framework of the law. The vehicle drivers, educational institutions and parents should discharge their duties responsibly, he added.

The MLA said the haphazard parking of vehicles pose a threat to the vehicle users in spite of widening the road. The police should initiate action against those who park the vehicles haphazardly, he demanded.

Registration

Deputy Commissioner of Transport and Senior Regional Transport Officer (In-charge) G S Hegde said all the private vehicles transporting children should register themselves as tourist taxis. One cannot get any exemption from the rule. Under School Cab scheme, one can avail 50% tax exemption. However, installation of speed breaker and painting the vehicle with Yellow colour is mandatory, he added.

ACP (Traffic) Uday Nayak said, “The police have not initiated any stringent action against the violators. The vehicle owners are only fined.”