Team Herald
PONDA/PANJIM: The Goa State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights conducted a joint inspection of the bus stop at Opa road junction, Khandepar, following a complaint that the high school students who wait at the spot to board buses home, were prone to accidents and other dangers due to the lack of a proper bus stop/shelter, and encroachments by local businesses.
Representatives from the Deputy Collector’s office, Ponda, PWD Division XVIII, Curti-Khandepar panchayat secretary and Ponda police conducted the joint inspection after local resident Sandeep Parkar raised the issue of the students’ safety with the Commission. The Commission recommended urgent action from the Deputy Collector’s office, to sort out the issues related to the land where a proper bus stop is proposed and also recommended the panchayat secretary to take up the issue in the upcoming gram sabha meeting.
There have been several casualties here at this spot and with illegal shops at the spots, the children are forced to board public buses on the road. “A safe and healthy environment for children is an absolute necessity for healthy growth and development. Children are susceptible and vulnerable due to their physical size, difficulty in risk perception, impulsivity and risk-taking behaviour, children should not die or become disabled for conditions that are predictable and preventable,” said GSCPCR Chairman Peter Borges.
