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School bus owners’ strike catches parents off guard in Pune

Say move comes at wrong time; schools adamant not to take responsibility.

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When owners of some 1,500 school buses decided to go on indefinite strike following failed talks between their association and the chief minister, rickshaw drivers sought the opportunity to put themselves in the spotlight by announcing that they would continue ferrying students.

When the school buses go off the road, the onus will squarely be on the parents to drop and pick the children from schools.

President of Maharashtra state goods and passengers transport association, Baba Shinde, said on Tuesday, “Our talks with the chief minister have failed and we have decided to go on strike from midnight of March 8.”

Meanwhile, parents and school authorities have condemned the strike saying their wards have been caught off hand at a time when they are busy with board and final examinations.

Medha Vaidya, who is suffering with spondylitis, said, “We parents are always at the receiving end. We have no option but to accept the decision.” She said that now she’ll have to pick and drop her son to school.

“Doctors have advised me not to drive the vehicle, but then my husband is an engineer and goes to work early in the morning and comes back late in the evening,” she added.

Sonal Musale, another parent, who has a one-and-a-half-year-old child, said, “My husband is a professor and goes early in the morning. So it’ll be difficult for me.”

Vaishali Wagh, who’s a working mother, said, “We both will have to take leave alternatively to pick and drop my daughters. Since I’m a school teacher, taking leave during the board examination is very difficult. I don’t know how I’m going to manage it.”

Principal of Dr Kalmadi Shamrao Highschool, Erandwane, said, “It is unjust on part of the transporters to go on strike especially during the examination period. We have a mix of students who travel in rickshaws, mini buses and buses. I think now parents will have to look out for options to drop and pick their wards; schools cannot do any alternate arrangement at this juncture.”

Secretary of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Nandkumar Karkirde, said, “Parents will have to take the responsibility of their children. Schools cannot do any arrangement at this point when board exams are on.”

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