Make schools safe: Soon, psychological tests to gauge bus staff

After a school bus conductor was arrested by the Gurugram police for murdering a seven-year-old at Gurugram's Ryan International School after attempting to sexually assault him; the repercussions of the horrific crime are being seen in Mumbai. In a first, school bus owners have decided to conduct psychological tests on bus drivers and attendants as part of "health check-up".

On September 9, the School Bus Owners Association (SBOA) held an emergency meeting to discuss measures that could be adopted to prevent such incidents' from occurring in Mumbai. Sources who attended the meeting revealed that some immediate steps had been shortlisted, which could be rolled out this week. The SBOA runs nearly 1,500 school buses in the city and arranges for drivers and female bus attendants.

Sources from SBOA said the first step they were planning in this regard was to get in touch with schools, and NGOs that work for children's welfare.

"We want to conduct health check-ups for drivers and female bus attendants, and as part of these check-ups, we shall also carry out psychological tests to ascertain their mental stability," said a member from SBOA.

Under the School Bus Policy, having a female attendant inside the school bus with girls is compulsory, school bus drivers and attendants are to be employed only after police verification and checks could also extend to school peons.

"We welcome this move. Nowadays, people are so stressed that they could snap anytime. These psychological tests can be beneficial," said Kavita Sanghvi, principal, MET Rishikul Vidyalaya.

SBOA members claim that despite police verification, there have been cases in the past where even the female attendant was hand-in-glove with the driver or other school staff in crimes against children.

"We regularly review the school buses and how they operate. As per the school bus policy, a lady attendant in a school bus is compulsory and is to be provided by the transporter," said Praveen Gedam, state Transport Commissioner.

Officials from the Regional Transport Office (RTO) said that there is a need to ensure stringent rules and that even the state education department needs to work towards making school buses safer. "One of the views raised for the School Bus Policy was having a teacher from that school inside the bus for additional safety. This, however, was ruled out after teachers protested," said an RTO officer.

SBOA members said that they would also push for such a measure, so that schools too assume responsibility for the safety of children travelling in school buses. Bus owners also want stringent checks to curb illegally operating school vans, cars and auto rickshaws. At present there is little control on such vehicles ferrying school children, putting the students at risk, members said.

PAST INSTANCES OF CRIMES AGAINST SCHOOL STUDENTS:

• In May, a girl's mother filed a rape case under sections of the IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against a 57-year-old founder-trustee of an international school and a nursery teacher for allegedly raping a 3-year-old child on the school premises.
   
• In June, the MIDC police registered a case against an Indian-origin French national who is a trustee of a school in Andheri (E) for allegedly sexually abusing a 4-year-old student at the school.
   
• In August, a chess teacher from Dombivli was arrested for allegedly molesting two children; a 7-year-old boy and 10-year-old girl, at an academy in Nerul.