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Chandigarh, October 08 : Punjab Government emphasized upon the need of proper implementation of ‘Safe School Vahan Scheme to reduce the school bus accidents. In view of this Punjab Transport Minister, S. Ajit Singh Kohar has issued directions to all District Transport Officers of the state, to ensure the professional credentials of the candidates before recruiting them for the buses. They should be having a valid driving license besides having an experience certificate of handling heavy vehicles. He also asked the authorities to ensure that the guidelines of the Supreme Court of india are not flouted under the ‘Safe School Vahan ‘
Taking a strong view of untrained drivers and conductors plying school buses during the leave period of drivers and conductors, Mr Kohar observed that the lives of lakhs of innocent school children can not be allowed to be put in danger by handing over buses to untrained drivers. Directing to adopt an institutionalized standard operating procedure for such eventualities, the minister directed that each school must have 10% additional drivers and conductors who would take the charge of school bus during the leave period of driver and conductor and school would ensure that relievers fulfill all qualification laid down by Supreme Court of india for school buses.
He said that Punjab Government has initiated an elaborate drive to ensure that the road safety norms are being properly implemented. For this purpose a scheme namely ‘Safe School Vahan ‘ has been formulated by the transport department. School Education Department has been entrusted upon a special responsibility to properly maintain school buses and their use following the norms of Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 and Supreme Court rulings.
The minister also asked the District Transport Officers and District Education Officers to comply with the directive of the Supreme Court to ensure safety of the school children.
