Mangaluru, Jun 28: Opposing the new guidelines issued by the district administration for vehicles ferrying schoolchildren in the wake of the death of 8 students in Kundapur, Dakshina Kannada District School Vehicle Drivers' Association staged a protest in front of the deputy commissioner's office in the city on Tuesday.
The protesters not only opposed the orders by the district administration to convert their vehicles to yellow board, but also demanded official permission to carry more school children in small vehicles.
Speaking on the occasion CITU district secretary Sunil Kumar Bajal said owners and drivers of vehicles are ferrying schoolchildren to eke out a living. Once the vehicle is converted to yellow, it cannot be used for any other purpose.
"Instead of a yellow board, a board displaying 'On School Duty' could be hung over the vehicles during duty hours," he said.
He slammed the police department and the RTO for imposing fine on overcrowded school vehicles and alleged that autorickshaws and vans carrying children well within the norms were also fined.
"It is rather strange that the administration wakes up only when there is an accident," he said, in an apparent reference to the move by the administration to issue new guidelines in the wake the recent Trasi accident that claimed lives of eight schoolchildren.
The protesters said the number of schoolchildren accommodated in a vehicle should be fixed “scientifically”. It should be maximum 10 in auto-rickshaws, 16 in Omni van, 18 in Eeco and 35 in maxicabs, they said.
Comments
carry less pay more..... that what's the solution. two parts are the reaons for innocents death. one more slogan carry minimum and ensure miimum speed.
Did they agree they will drive descently on roads and assure about the safety of our kids?.......they will never change.....and our administration will forget the tragedies left behind...or forgotten.....feel the pain of each parent.....moreover rules should be rules
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