To reduce the school bus accidents, Punjab Government on Thursday emphasised upon the need of proper implementation of 'Safe School Vahan Scheme’.
In this regard, State Transport Minister Ajit Singh Kohar has issued directions to all District Transport Officers of the State to ensure professional credentials of the candidates before recruiting them for the buses.
“They should be having a valid driving license besides having an experience certificate of handling heavy vehicles,” he said while also asking the authorities concerned to ensure that the guidelines of the Supreme Court are not flouted under the 'Safe School Vahan Scheme'.
Taking a strong view of untrained drivers and conductors plying school buses during the leave period of drivers and conductors, Kohar observed that the lives of lakhs of innocent school children cannot be allowed to be put in danger by handing over buses to untrained drivers.
Directing to adopt an institutionalized standard operating procedure for such eventualities, the Minister directed that each school must have 10 percent additional drivers and conductors who would take the charge of school bus during the leave period of driver and conductor and school would ensure that relievers fulfil all qualification laid down by Supreme Court of India for school buses.