TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
CANACONA: School students answering their exams and election officials conducting the polls on April 12 could find themselves in a spot of bother, as the Bal Rath and Indira Rath school buses may be out of operation from April 1 onwards.
Reports that the work-contract for operations of these buses had expired on March 31 has not only put students in some difficulty, but it could also cause some confusion for the Election Commission conducting the April 12 polls in the state.
Director of Education Anil Powar has, however, flatly denied that the contract to run the school buses had ended on March 31.
According to reliable sources, the directives reportedly issued by education authorities indicate that the Bal Rath and Indira Rath buses were allotted to schools concerned with its operating staff (driver and assistant) for a period of 10 months from June 2013. Accordingly, the contract ends in March 2014.
As such, the operation of school buses and the engagement of the bus driver and assistant would officially end on March 31.
These directives could put these schools and its students to inconvenience, as the driver and assistant are allegedly no longer on the payroll of the schools concerned or the department from April 1 onwards.
With most schools commencing their academic examinations from the first week of April, students are likely to be the first one to get hit by this development as their school bus may not pick them up and drop them back home.
It is also unclear if the drivers and assistants can operate the school buses beyond the official period of March 31, as they could be held responsible if any untoward incident were to take place while transporting students during this unauthorized period.
Sources told Herald that authorities have so far failed to extend the period of this work-contract of school buses (Balrath and Indirarath).
In fact, some schools in Sattari taluka confirmed to Herald that they had intimated their students that Bal Rath bus facilities would not be available to them from April 1 onwards.
Some schools elsewhere in the state had earlier worked out alternative arrangements to get the school buses in operation in the interest of the students, but opted out of the plan in view of fears arising out of unexpected consequences.
“There were plans to run our two Bal-Rath buses from PTA funds till the end of the exams. But later, the school decided to abide by directives of the education authorities to stop plying the buses from April 1. This is because the school could have been blamed in case of any untoward incident involving the school buses,” a senior teacher from a school in Bardez taluka told Herald.
Confusion has also prevailed over the allotment of the school buses for poll-related duties.
Following the general practice, the Election Commission requisitions all school buses for poll-related duty, a day before and during the polls.
Education authorities had recently issued an order asking the schools concerned to cooperate with Election
Commission in view of April 12 polls by providing the vehicles for election duty.
But the order is reportedly silent on extending the period for the bus driver and assistant to operate these buses.
As a result, even if the schools concerned release the buses for poll duty, the school buses may not be technically available for poll-related work in the absence of clear-cut directions to the driver and assistant.
Sources stated that education authorities are to issue an order to extend the period for the school buses and its staff, as it covers financial implications.
When contacted, Director of Education Anil Powar flatly denied that the contract to run the school buses had ended on March 31 and that, they would not operate from April onwards.
“Your information is wrong. Schools are given Rs 3 lakh and they are expected to run the school buses for the entire year. It is for them to decide how and when they run the school buses. There is no such thing that the contract ends on March 31”, Powar said.
