Ensure strict compliance of 'Safe School Vahan Policy' for safety of students or be ready to face action - DC to school heads 

Ludhiana, April 16, 2024: Keeping the safety of the students at utmost priority, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sakshi Sawhney conducted a meeting with the heads of various schools of the district at Guru Nanak Dev Bhawan on Tuesday and directed them to ensure strict compliance of 'Safe School Vahan policy'.

Secretary, Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Randeep Singh Heer, DEO Harjinder Singh, District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) Rashmi, officials of traffic police and traffic education cell among others were present in the meeting.
  
During the meeting, the school heads from various schools including private, government aided, government schools were apprised of the norms under the safe school vahan policy by the members of traffic police education cell.
 
Safe School Vahan Policy norms make it mandatory for school buses to have CCTV cameras, fire extinguisher, attendant and staff with uniform,  pollution control clearance, contact number of fire station, police etc, installation of speed governors, women attendant for girl students travelling in buses, first aid kits among other norms. Also, the buses should not be overloaded. 

The school heads were apprised about all the norms and the school Principals have been directed to submit a self declaration regarding the compliance of the policy in their respective schools within this week to avoid action in near future. The schools have also been directed to make adequate parking arrangements so that traffic jams are not witnessed outside the schools.

The officials stated that action will be taken against the schools if they failed to comply with the rules within this week. The information regarding compliance has to be submitted with the department or action will be taken against the schools as per section 24 of the rules.

DC Sawhney said that safety of students is an utmost priority and administration will not accept any negligence/excuses in this regard. The schools will have to implement Safe School Vahan Policy strictly to avoid action by the administration in near future. Secretary RTA and traffic police will ensure compliance and take strict action against schools violating the norms.  
 
Directing the school managements to form committees at school level for implementation of safe School vahan policy, DC Sawhney said that it is the moral responsibility of the schools to ensure safety of the students. 
 
Further speaking of the unsafe modes of transportation like overloaded e-rickshaws etc, DC Sawhney appealed to the school managements to sensitise the parents about the safety of the students and to ask them to send their children to schools in safe transportation. If the school comes to know about parents opting for unsafe modes of transportation for students, then the school management should apprise the administration about the same too and required action will be taken by the authorities.

During the meeting, DC also interacted with school heads to clear their doubts in regard to the Safe School Vahan Policy. 

At last, DC Sawhney also appealed to the school management to work for spreading voter awareness among the students and their parents to achieve the target of maximum voter participation in the Lok Sabha-2024 elections.