Following a meeting with members of School Bus Owners Association (SBOA) on Monday,the transport department has decided to appoint a committee to look into their grievances. The school bus owners have threatened to go on an indefinite strike if their demands to withdraw unreasonable school bus safety norms are not met. The Principal Secretary of transport,in a meeting on Monday evening,promised to look into our problem. They have asked for 10 days, said Deepak Naik secretary of SBOA. On December 20,over 10,000 private school buses across the state remained off roads to mark their protest against certain rules specified by the state government under the school bus safety norms. Following the one-day strike the bus operators had submitted a memorandum to RTOs and the transport department demanding the withdrawal of the norms,which they claim are impractical. The school bus operators and owners have also alleged harassment from RTO officials over the implementation of these norms. A Government Resolution (GR) issued recently had listed the norms applicable to all school bus transport. Anil Garg,president of SBOA Mumbai said,The GR states horizontal bars should be fitted to bus windows with the gap of 5 inches,but different RTOs cite different specifications. It also states that a pole post should be installed inside the vehicle,but old buses do not have it and it is very difficult to instal such poles now. Many schools have even refused to pay salaries to the lady attendant in the school bus. On failing to follow these norms,bus operators have to face action, he added. Meanwhile,transport department officials said the matter will be resolved at the earliest. They have raised certain issues in the meeting. We will appoint a committee to look into them. The committee will examine their demands and submit a report within a week. Based on the report,action will be taken, Shailesh Kumar Sharma,Principal Secretary,Transport said.
