A Decade After Trasi Tragedy, School Transport Safety Concerns Persist in Karnataka
Ten years have passed since the devastating Trasi incident in Udupi district, which claimed the lives of eight schoolchildren, yet stakeholders in Karnataka assert that children's safety remains a significant concern. This is largely due to the continued operation of numerous uninsured private vehicles, commonly known as white board vehicles, that transport students daily.
Enforcement Efforts and Ongoing Violations
Despite directives from the district education department to field officers and notifications to higher authorities like the deputy commissioner and additional deputy commissioner for strict action against illegal school transport, violations persist. In a recent development, GS Shashidhar, the Dakshina Kannada District Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI), sent a letter on March 23 requesting details on actions taken against such infractions.
The Dakshina Kannada School Vehicle Drivers' Association voiced strong objections on Thursday, highlighting the unabated prevalence of these vehicles even after the nationwide outrage following the Trasi incident. Sunil Kumar Bajal, honorary president of the association, emphasized, "Ten years ago, the Trasi incident triggered nationwide outrage, leading to the mandate for yellow board vehicles, which come with insurance. To comply with the law, we incur an annual overhead of Rs 50,000, a large portion dedicated to insurance."
Costs and Compliance Challenges for Law-Abiding Operators
Bajal further detailed the additional safety measures undertaken by compliant operators, stating, "We have installed panic buttons at a cost of Rs 14,000, with an annual renewal of nearly Rs 4,000, all in the interest of safety and adherence to regulations." However, he pointed out a stark disparity: "White board vehicles continue to increase in number, ferrying students without deterrence," citing a lack of disincentives for violators and the resulting disadvantage faced by those following the rules.
Lokesh Surathkal, secretary of the association, expressed frustration over the lack of stringent legal action, noting, "For the past five to six years, we have submitted multiple representations to the authorities. It is regrettable that no stringent legal action has been taken. At best, a few are fined and let off."
Regulatory Gaps and Enforcement Issues
Surathkal also addressed seating capacity guidelines, explaining that while Supreme Court rules allow 1.5 times seating for children under 12 and one seat per child for those above 12, compliant operators face scrutiny while private vehicles operating part-time remain unchecked. This regulatory gap exacerbates safety risks and undermines efforts to ensure secure transport for students.
The persistence of these issues underscores the need for more robust enforcement and policy measures to protect children in Karnataka, as stakeholders continue to advocate for stricter actions against illegal school transport operations.
