PUNE: The Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) has started organising workshops for school principals about safe travel of children in school buses. The workshop will continue till July 31 which includes all schools in Pune district. As many as 850 schools teachers and principals have participated in these workshops till now.
As of now, two workshops have already been conducted by the RTO. The workshops were started on July 18 from Dive and second was at Charholi under Haveli taluka. The purpose of the workshop is to create awareness about safety in school buses.
Deputy RTO Sanjeev Bhore told Sakal Times, “This workshop is only for school principals. We are giving them instructions to follow rules which are mandatory for safe travel. The school authorities should be aware of various safety measures to be taken in the bus. The basic amenities like fitness certificate, permit, fire extinguisher, emergency exit, first aid is required in all buses. Other than that, the bus should have been coloured in yellow with prominent display.”
“One major thing which is always missed or ignored by the school is a contract or agreement with the driver when they hire for driving. The contract is necessary. If he is involved in rash driving and or not following the rules, the school should cancel the contract,” Bhore said.
The workshop is being conducting under the Education Department of Pune district. The RTO has been stressing the safety of children travelling in buses. The drivers and the bus attendants have the most important part to play and they told at length about the steps and actions they should take to ensure the safety of the children. “We are trying to make schools accountable for lapses. The school should understand the importance of transport committees and how the members can ensure that the children are safe while travelling. Schools should proactively take up the matter of safety of the children,” added Bhore.
WORKSHOP INFO
- Principals learn how to keep students safe inside the bus.
- School should provide bus attendants in all buses, if there are girl children, there should be a lady attendant.
- Keeping the doors locked, special care of girls, vigilance while deboarding will be emphasised.
- Principals were informed about transport committees and how to improve transport service.
