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Transport stalemate wreaks havoc

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The ordeal faced by parents and school-going children deprived of transport by school vans continued Thursday as the van drivers’ strike continued with no end in sight, with the government and the union sticking to their stances.

Transport minister Ramalinga Reddy declared that the government would not roll back its decision to implement the guidelines framed for safety of school children. He said he won’t bow to the protest from the Karnataka United School and Light Motor Vehicles Drivers’ Union. “If the need arises, the department will provide sufficient number of BMTC buses to ferry children to schools,” he assured.

Speaking with reporters, Reddy said the 12 safety guidelines that the government is insisting on for the safety of children were issued by the Supreme Court. “We cannot delay the implementation. These guidelines should have come to effect in January itself and implementation was postponed. At this stage, I can’t help,” he said.
The minister said he was willing to consider the drivers’ demand for reduction of taxes on school vans. The issue will be discussed with the chief minister, he added.

Asked whether the department will keep tabs on fixing of fares, minister Reddy replied in the negative. 

“As for as other guidelines are concerned, including scrapping of vehicles older than 15 years and speed limit, the government is going ahead with them,” he explained.

Union adamant
On the other side of the fence, drivers’ union president PS Shanmugam said that if the government did not try to contact them soon for talks, they would stage a protest against the transport department.

“We are fine with all the rules, but we want the department to remove the rule on scrapping vehicles that are older than 15 years. Also, since vehicles owned by schools get tax concession, we want the same to be applied to us,” he said. If the government does not act, the union will protest and hold a demonstration on Saturday, June 22, he warned.

Additional Commissioner for Traffic and Security MA Saleem said the situation was better during the day compared to the previous day. “To be honest we can expect some kind of inconvenience, since it is for the larger good and safety of schools, but we can’t relent,” he maintained.

Not a big problem
Except for some students coming late, there was no huge fall in attendance. We are not affected that much as we have enough number of buses. If parents complain, we will make other arrangements. - Indira Williams, Principal, Baldwins girls school.

Burden on parents
It’s been a huge burden for the parents and many students came late. Hope the situation will change soon enough. If parents request officially, we will make necessary arrangements. - Christopher Thampi Dorai, Vice Principal, Bishop Cottons boys school.

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