Now, HC bans auto-rickshaws ferrying students to school! Auto drivers and parents fume!!
After denying permission to small vans having less than 30 seats, the Bombay High Court (HC) this week banned auto-rickshaws ferrying students to and from schools, declaring it is unsafe for students.The decision has come like a bolt from blue not only to auto drivers but even to parents belonging to low economic sections. Fuming with anger, a middle-class woman living in Mhada said, “Due to the auto-rickshaw I was able to afford sending my kids to school as he charged a modest monthly fare that suited my budget, but now I am shattered! How can I afford a school bus?”
In its order, the Bombay High Court asked the state government to stop granting permits to auto-rickshaws as a mode of transport for school students. The HC gave its judgment on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by PTA United Forum, which posed a question on student security. It stated it is unsafe to ferry students in smaller vehicles like auto rickshaws. The judges agreed and urged the state government to ban permits for auto rickshaws. The judges also frowned upon those parents who dropped their children to school on motorcycles and scooters without protection in the form of helmets and other safety measures.
The prime reason behind HC declining permits to auto rickshaws is the malpractice adopted by auto drivers who overload students in their auto-rickshaws above their capacity. A PTA member said, “The actual capacity of auto-rickshaw is just 3 students, but the auto drivers pack the auto with 6 to 7 students. The overload of children is dangerous to the lives of students as it could result in an accident.”
He added, “The tragedy is that the parents make no protest because the auto driver charges a nominal fee. On the other hand, the auto drivers also compensate for their loss of low fee by increasing the number of students in their auto!” “But in an attempt to save little money why do parents risk the lives of their children?” he wondered!
Meanwhile, the auto drivers are upset by the HC decision. An auto driver said, “While ferrying the students we are alert and take maximum efforts to safely take students to school and drop them home. The HC decision is wrong and it has ruined our business. Also, middle-class parents are upset as we ferry their children to school at such low rates that suit their budgets.” “Now these parents will have great difficulty ferrying their kids to schools.” he averred.
A parent, too, condemned the HC judgment. A mother of two children going to school said, “I have 2 kids going to school. The rate of the school bus is beyond my budget. Hence, I have hired an auto driver. But, now with auto drivers to be denied permits, how would we able to send our kids to schools?” “The auto driver charges a modest Rs.700/- for two kids while school buses charge Rs. 1,500/- for one kid!! That means for 2 kids I have to spend Rs. 3,000/- a month!! Already the vegetable prices are touching the sky. On top of this, schools have increased fees and now we are being forced to send our kids in school buses! How would we survive? Are these Acche Din??, she moaned!!
