PUNE: On Friday, the Department of Education, RTO and Pune Traffic Police blamed each other for implementation of the School Students Transport Policy which has not yet seen the light of the day seven years after it was drafted.
A workshop was organised for school principals by the PMC’s Education Department on Friday. During the workshop, officials from RTO, Traffic Police and teachers and principals were present. Each one, present during the workshop agreed to stop ferrying school children in private vehicles not registered with the school. The school representatives claimed they try to stop unregistered vehicles from carrying students, but every time they face problems from parents’ side. However, due to lack of coordination of RTO, Traffic Police and City School Committee, the students’ security issue is in a limbo.
The school administrations claim when they try to stop private vehicles, the parents oppose them as they face the problem of sending their wards to school. The representatives of schools said it is the RTO’s duty to take action against these vehicles. The drivers of private vehicles not registered with the school, drop children at the school gates.
“Several schools don’t take steps despite seeing their students getting transported in private unregistered vehicles. If they take action, the parents question the school administration. We have asked them to monitor private vehicles dropping pupils outside the gate. Take a photo of the vehicles, note down the registration number and submit it to the school transport committee or nearest police station,” Sanjay Raut, Deputy RTO told Sakal Times.
“The school administration should not expect that action will be taken by RTO or traffic police. Schools should take up the initiative,” said Prabhakar Dhamale, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Traffic Department.
The representatives said that though an explanation has been given by the traffic police and RTO, the question is raised by the principals about how to prevent the private transporters.
BOARDS AT SCHOOLS
The District Collector had given an order to school administrations to put up display boards with guidelines regarding the care to be taken by parents about private school transport.
