FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Police has urged the North Goa Collector to form two important committees for the safety of students plying in school vehicles. In a communiqué to North Collector Mamu Hage on Wednesday, Director General of Police Jaspal Singh has suggested constituting ‘Children Safety Committee’ and ‘Children Transport Committee’ as mandated by the Motor Vehicles (regulation for School Buses), Rules, 2016 on priority.
“Most of the schools are inaccessible without motorised transportation due to the distance involved from residential neighbourhood. Moreover, there are no walkways. therefore it is of utmost importance to ensure the safety and transportation of students,” he said while suggesting the two committees.
The suggestion comes after the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights recommended the government to act against operators of vehicles illegally being used as school transport. The Commission, taking suo motu cognisance of a viral video where students were being cramped in a school bus, had this month sought for constituting the required Committees.
In letter by Commission Chairperson Peter Borges to the Departments of Transport, Education, and Traffic, the former requested the officials of the three departments to disclose on affidavit immediate as well as permanent measures taken to ensure the safety of children going to schools, and also to look into vehicles illegally operating as school transport and also report the status and implementation on or before June 27, 2022.
