IMPHAL, May 17: To ensure safety of school children travelling in buses and other types of vehicles, Transport Department, Government of Manipur has set certain conditions for transportation of children of educational institutions. In this regard, Manipur Gazette notification was published on September 14, 2015; conveyed DIPR in a press release.
The notification mentioned that the State government is satisfied, however, it is necessary in the interest of public safety and conveniences as well, inter alia, the safety and convenience of the educational institution buses, private buses, school vans (motor cabs/maxi cabs) and the private omnibuses used for transportation of children of educational institutions.
All types of vehicles including educational institution buses, private buses, school vans (motor cabs/maxi cabs) and the private omnibuses used for transportation of children of educational institutions should obtain a Contract Carriage Permit (Regular/Temporary) u/s 66 & 74 of the MV Act 1988 from the office of the Secretary/STA, Manipur, it said.
Certificate of Fitness (FC) u/s 56 of the MV Act 1988 from the offices of the District Transport Officers and Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUC) under Rule 115 of the CMV Rules 1989 from the authorized/recognized Vehicle Pollution Testing Centers should be obtained. The vehicles should be painted with a strip/band of yellow color of 6 inches wide for easy identification just below the window as invoked & mandated u/s 96(2) (xviii) of the MV Act 1988, the release explained.
It elaborated that necessity for conforming to other Safety Norms like School Bus/Van or On School Duty along with name of the School, Telephone No on a board should be fixed in the front and rear side. In the case of School Van, carriers should be fitted on the roof for keeping school bags of the students.
The School Bus/Van should carry a detailed list of students along with their blood groups, contact numbers of parents etc. The School Bus/Van must have a First Aid Box and a device/mechanism may be adapted for ensuring internal locking of the sliding doors. The conditions set in the notification shall apply to all educational institution buses, private or public or Government, all other types of vehicles whether run by the educational institution or by an association or organization or by individual, for an educational institution in the State of Manipur, said the release.
Each and every school authority under the administrative control/management of Central/State government or Semi government or Private establishment shall set up a School Transport Committee which shall be headed by its Principal & other members drawn from the Parents/Guardian Forum/Assn., School Transport service providers association and local bodies etc.
The Committee shall hold its regular meetings once in three months during an academic/calendar year or as deemed fit provided the situation warranted to resolve issues & take appropriate decisions concerning to transportation of school children. The Committee shall maintain proper records of all the students, parents and vehicles under school duty and furnish records to the Secy/STA, Manipur and the Committee shall be responsible for safe transportation of the students in terms of conforming to the prescribed guidelines/conditions issued by the competent authorities from time to time, the release stated.