AP Child Rights Panel Calls for Extra Vigil Over School Bus Safety

Visakhapatnam: Officials from the state commission for protection of child rights have called for heightened  vigil and scrutiny of school and college bus permits
in Andhra Pradesh.

“There must be strict adherence to safety measures and regulations,” stated commission chairperson Kesali Apparao and member Gondu Sitaram at a review
meeting held here on Thursday.

Madhavadhara deputy transport commissioner G.C. Rajaratnam conducted the
review meeting involving representatives from various departments. The focus
was primarily on ensuring safety protocols in the operation and management
of buses and autos ferrying students to and from educational institutions.

At the meeting, Kesali Apparao and Sitaram inquired about several critical aspects related to student transportation. They sought information on the number of private schools and colleges utilizing buses and autos in this district, their adherence to safety measures, actions taken against capacity violations, and details regarding compliance with regulations such as displaying emergency contact numbers, using fire extinguishers, and ensuring drivers' age limits.

The officials also stressed the need for comprehensive information dissemination, including educational details, route maps and instructions for managing new buses that would replace the older ones.

Emphasis was placed on the absence of actions taken against non-compliant entities and the need for proactive meetings with the managements at the beginning of the coming academic year (2024-25).

Highlighting the role of the APSCPCR, Apparao and Sitaram said these reviews
aimed at providing clear directives to state transport officials, ensuring a specific policy for entities operating buses transporting students. They encouraged reporting of issues that impede child rights protection to pscpcr2018@gmail.com, promising swift resolution.

Rajaratnam stressed the need for conducting awareness programmes in collaboration with various departments, educational institutions and auto driver unions. These initiatives aim to prevent road accidents involving children, aligning with directives from the APSCPCR, the state government, and relevant departments.