FLIP SIDE - Overloaded school buses, autos

Yogesh Mishra

Finally, there is someone who cares for students. It is the state
Transport department that has decided to take action on school buses,
vans and auto rickshaws overloaded with students. The Additional
Transport Commissioner BS Maravi has directed the flying squads of all
the districts to keep an eye on these vehicles. This is a welcoming
move. The kids wake up early morning to pick the school bus, van or
auto. They utilise their travel time from home to school by either by
completing their sleep or swotting some chapters. At school, they
spend at least 6-7 hours. Hence, when they return, they again want to
relax. But they do not get anticipated comfort as the school buses and
vans fill students double the number of their seats while autowalas
pack the children thrice the capacity of their vehicles. Ironically,
parents pay hefty conveyance fee hoping that their kids would have
safe and comfortable journey. Now, if Transport department can realise
that the overloaded vehicles with students are more prone to road
mishaps and further inaction would cost innocent lives, why police
administration is sleeping? Why it does not take action against the
overloaded vehicles carrying students and seize them along with
driving license of the driver? Why it does not admonish school
managements to consider children as humans, not goods while pushing
them in the buses or vans? In addition, the police should also take
action against the children below 18 who have developed a cult of
racing their vehicles in the crowded areas. Why any of the police
campaign against norm violating vehicles does not last more than a
week or fortnight? Till how long the traffic cops will allow the
violators to disappear along with their vehicles merely by taking Rs
50 (earlier it was Rs 20)? Now, the responsibility does not end with
the police alone. The parents and school managements should also be
blamed. Why parents do no check whether their kids get seat everyday
or not? They should quickly inquire from the autowala or the school
management why their children had to face inconvenience during travel
when the pay the full fare or conveyance fee. Unfortunately, these
parents only awake when they read the headlines in the newspapers that
some school bus dashed a truck or a crowded auto with students turned
turtle. However, instead of taking lesson from such episodes, they
start blaming the police, district and civic administrations. Finally,
the school managements are completely indifferent towards the problem
of the students. They simply want money, no matter how much
inconvenience the students face in bus. So, after the Transport
department’s initiatives, will the police, parents and school
managements follow the suit?