Let’s start at the very beginning…

The PCMC RTO also cracks down on offenders and initiates action against 32 persons recovering a penalty of Rs 17,000.

December 3: The RTA crackdown on errant school rickshaws meets with resistance by the automen. The traffic branch decides to slow its action against errant three-seaters as the Vidyarthi Vahatuk Sanghatana, owing allegiance to Pune City Auto-rickshaw Federation, threatens an agitation on December 4. Despite action, 165 rickshaws are found overcrowded and fined Rs 50 each.

December 4: The traffic wing decides to temporarily suspend the drive against errant autos after the Vidyarthi Vahatuk Rickshawchalak Sanghatana calls for a meeting of parents, students, automen with its officials to discuss the issue. The meeting is scheduled for Dec 11. Traffic police continues routine checking and vigilance.

December 12: Automen ask the chief minister to intervene on their behalf, and present a memorandum condemning the police, the RTO and the RTA for alleged apathy.

December 16: The RP president Baba Adhav tells Police Commissioner K K Kashyap that he is ready for dialogue with the police on the issue.December 25: School principals rise against the rickshaw threat, with some principals organising meetings with automen and parents.

MAY 1998:May 24: The traffic wing of the Pune police launches a public campaign to spread awareness about overcrowded autos as a prelude to a crackdown against errant automen scheduled for the second week of June.

May 28: The Rickshaw Union affiliated to the Indian National Trade Union Congress (RU-INTUC) decides to launch an agitation against the norms issued by the RTA over schoolchildren in three-seaters, stating that written statements and no-objection letters will be sought from parents.

JUNE 1998June 2: The RU-INTUC seeks withdrawal or a stay on the implementation of RTA norms on ferrying of schoolchildren. Its delegation meets Divisional Deputy Commissioner V S Ohol and presents the appeal for three- and six-seater rickshaws. The delegation suggests that a committee of representatives of rickshaw unions and the State Government be appointed to discuss the issue

.June 3: Along with an appeal to the RTA to stay the implementation of its norms, the RP decides to organise a signature campaign requesting RTA for a limit of 10 children per three-seater. Nitin Pawar, organiser, RP, also demands the appointment of a committee presided by RP President Baba Adhav to discuss the issue.

June 6: The RP decides on a limit of 10 children in three-seaters in violation of RTA norms and reiterates its demand that the RTA should stay the implementation of its norms. It also presents a memorandum stating the RP’s stand to Divisional Commissioner Arun Bhatia, and states its decision to go ahead with a signature campaign among parents.

The RU-INTUC, too, urges the RTA to stay the implementation of norms.The Krantiveer Six-Seater Rickshaw Union, meanwhile, decides to ferry 12 children per rickshaw in compliance with the norms.The traffic police decides to go ahead with its drive.

June 7: On the eve of schools re-opening, the RP declares that three-seaters will not pay fines for violating the RTA norms. On the other hand, the RU-INTUC appeals to the three-seaters to comply by RTA norms. Assistant Commissioner of Police (traffic branch) V R Patil says that action will be taken against errant three-seater drivers.

June 8: Doing a volte face, Pune’s Additional Commissioner of Police M S Maheshgouri categorically denies that the police was planning to launch a crackdown on auto operators cramming students in their vehicles, adding that the plan was only to launch a public awareness drive.

The Express Citizens’ Forum (ECF) states that it is the right of parents to demand safer and cheaper alternative mode of transport for their children and the duty of the administration to provide it.