Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jan 16: Deputy commissioner (DC) of the district, R Vishal, asked the schools to appoint one male and one female supervisor for each set of five school vehicles. He also told the heads of private schools that it is their duty to undertake all measures to protect safety and security of the children attending their schools. He was speaking after presiding over a meeting of heads of schools on safety of children using school vehicles on Wednesday January 14..

The DC told them that it is expected of them to keep in mind the interests of children, and safety of the vehicles being run by their schools. The schools were also advised to take special interest about the drivers being appointed by them. He urged them to ensure that drivers of the vehicles do not flout any rules.

Superintendent of police, Annamalai, said that it is the duty of the schools to get identity proofs and past records of the drivers and get them verified through concerned police stations and collect certificate to that affect. 'The schools have to scientifically study the time required by each of the vehicles to cover the total distance. Speed governors should be installed and speed of vehicles should be restricted to 40 km per hour as per Supreme Court directives,' he explained.

Regional transport officer, Arun Kumar Singh, read out a list of conditions set forth for school vehicles by the Supreme Court. He said it is mandatory for the schools to follow all these instructions. He said the schools are required to prepare list of children travelling by each of the vehicles, set up children safety committees and convene their monthly meetings.

'Fixing of CCTV cameras at strategic places within school premises, providing complaint box in the school, prominently displaying helpline number (1098) in the school, and issuance of identity cards to parents of the children will address most of the safety concerns,' said deputy director in the department of public instruction, H Divakar Shetty.