School authorities asked to adhere to road safety norms set by Supreme Court

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: State transport authorities have asked the school authorities of the State to strictly adhere to road safety rules fixed by the Supreme Court of India and the National Child Rights Commission for the sake of students’ safety.

The District Road Safety Committee and Inspector of Schools, Kamrup (Metro) organized a workshop and awareness programme on safe transportation and the safety of schoolchildren at the Sri Sri Madhavadeva International Auditorium at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra here today. Two hundred representatives from various government agencies and schools in Guwahati took part in the workshop.

Speaking at the workshop, Transport Minister Parimal Suklabaidya said, “One can compete in studies, ideology, and discipline, but not on the road by sitting on a driver’s seat, as it will only fetch one ill result. Some people create dangerous situations for themselves by ignoring the traffic rules set for them to adhere to. I appeal to the school authorities to keep a close watch on their school buses if they are plied properly.”

State Road Safety Committee chief Gaurav Upadhyay said, “Each student is the future of the country, and we need to protect them. The school authorities should play their role in this field.”

The event saw the presence of officials from the education, police, and transport departments of the state government as well as the district administration.

The workshop was initiated after Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma issued strict instructions to all to follow the traffic rules after an accident that claimed the lives of seven students of the Assam Engineering College. He instructed all the departments concerned with the state to take the necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of the students on the roads of the city.

The Assistant Commissioner of Transport as well as District Transport Officer for Kamrup Metropolitan District, Gautam Das, had earlier mentioned that it is of the utmost importance that the students are educated about traffic rules and road safety. He also said that the Enforcement Department had taken steps to prevent those vehicles from defying rules enforced by the Supreme Court of India for the safety of students.

According to Assistant Commissioner of Transpor Gautam Das, the guidelines issued by the apex court include a first aid box in all school buses, a fire extinguisher, buses should be fitted with speed governors of a specified standard, buses should have schools’ names and telephone numbers written on them, divers should have at least five years of experience, the doors of buses should be fitted with reliable locks, etc.

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