Overloaded cabs, no checks put lives of students in peril
SHIMLA: Flouting the norms at every step, school cabs are risking lives of children across Shimla. Parents do not object students being stuffed into the cabs as more the students, lesser the charges. The town has over a dozen private schools and hundreds of children commute to these schools using different means of transport.
Majority of the students, especially of junior classes, travel in private cabs pooled by their parents. These cab owners charge exorbitant fee. To avoid paying hefty amounts, parents agree to stuff more children in small vehicles. An Omini van in Shimla generally carries around 10 children; in some vehicles even the parents travel along.
“If only five students travel in a cab, charges are more. We take care of students. It is a job full of responsibility,” said Kamal Thakur, a taxi driver.
Besides this, rash driving, no first aid-box in vehicles and no fire safety system in place are the other things inviting tragedies.
POLICE, TRANSPORT DEPT’S VERSION
Police and transport department have authority to check overloading in such vehicles. “If we stop the cabbies, parents shields them saying that their wards are getting late for school,” said a police constable, on condition of anonymity. Transport department is challaning them regularly.
Shimla SP DW Negi said efforts are being made to convince schools to engage buses to ferry children. “We will suggest using government buses as well,” he said. “Buses will not enter the school campus. Who will ensure the safety of our children?” asked Vikas Chauhan, a parent. Some parents also feel that if schools purchase their own buses, they will be overcharged.
DISTRICT ADMN’S STANCE
Deputy commissioner Rohan Chand Thakur has order a probe into an accident in which two school children had died. A taxi was ferrying these children from a school in Totu to their home in Jutogh. “On the basis of report, action will be initiated. Law enforcement agencies will be asked to strictly deal with the violators,” he said.
MONEY MATTERS
Cabbies charge around ₹2,000₹3,000 to ferry a child to and fro, from Sanjauli to Auckland house school (over three kilometre). Some cabies, who resort to overloading, charge less. If one goes by bus, the fare is ₹5. Private taxis takes around ₹150 per ride.
WHAT SC SAYS
The Supreme Court has issued guidelines for school buses, keeping all aspects in mind. The SC had issues directives for exteriors as well as interiors of the bus.
Schools were asked to designate transport managers to ensure safe arrival and departure of students. Buses are supposed to have first aid box, and siren or alarm in case of emergency.
The driver should not have been challaned more than twice in a year.
School authorities are to arrangements of pick and drop of children. Parents are equally responsible for safety of children, and should be vigilant.