School buses: Rights panel acts tough

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: To avert tragedies such as the one which took place at Karikkakom, the Kerala Human Rights Commission has instructed the DGP and State Transport Commissioner to implement stringent measures to combat the illegal running of school buses and other vehicles transporting school students. The Commission’s order came on a petition filed by P K Raju, a social activist in Thiruvananthapuram.The District Collector had issued several directions to the authorities concerned that the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court should be followed and enforced in spirit and to the letter. In view of the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court and in the view of the order passed by the District Collector, the Human Rights Commission has recommended to the Police and Transport officials concerned to see that all the instructions and guidelines are strictly followed so as to ensure the safety of children.       In a report submitted to the Commission, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Thiruvananthapuram, said that the necessary directions were issued to ensure that school vans were not overcrowded and congested. Further, the Sub-Inspectors of Police (Traffic) have been directed to take legal action against drivers who are below the legal age or are found to be driving under the influence of alcohol. In the report, the Assistant Commissioner said that several steps were taken after the Karikkakom incident to ensure that overcrowded school buses were a thing of the past. Several vans, buses and auto-rickshaws were inspected and violators were charged. Also, several awareness programmes were implemented to prevent parents from sending their children in vehicles that violated the law. In another report submitted to the Commission, the Regional Transport Officer stated that nearly 500 approved schools which functioned in the city had legal vehicles to transport children. According to the report, the vehicles under the scanner were other private contract vehicles engaged by parents to transport their wards.