Andhra Pradesh

Beware of school bus drivers

Threat to the lives of school going students from speeding vehicles was the biggest worrying factor for parents all these days. To the relief of everyone, fortunately no such incidents were reported of late.

But parents are scared now as a new threat emerged in the form of school vehicle drivers’ misbehaviour with students, especially minor girls.

Three cases of alleged molestation of girls by the vehicle drivers in the past few months - incidentally all of them in Saroornagar division of Cyberabad - and some more in other parts of the city early brought to fore the new danger.

Though investigators are yet to file charge-sheets in the cases and secure conviction, they agree that threat to girl students from vehicle drivers cannot be dismissed as mere allegations. There was prima facie case in all three incidents, they say.

In one incident reported at L.B. Nagar, it was charged that the mini bus driver had misbehaved with the child for over a month.

Only after noticing the change in the student’s behaviour could her mother learn about the heinous act by the driver.

In the latest incident reported two days ago at Vanasthalipuram, the temporary driver of the vehicle allegedly groped two girls sitting beside him. The police confirm that the driver was in drunken condition then.

The Government woke up only after a series of accidents claimed students’ lives and initiated measures to ensure they did not recur. Among the steps were directions to the managements to employ experienced drivers and deployment of guards to guide students near the school buildings.

Despite the spurt in cases of alleged molestation of students by vehicle drivers, there are no attempts to verify the antecedents of drivers either by the police or managements of the educational institutions.

In Vanasthalipuram incident, no effort was made to check why the temporary driver had come to pick up the students.

It is to be noted that police claim the accused driver was in an intoxicated condition but none at school had noticed it.

It becomes pertinent now that not only the driving skills of a person but his personal track record should be taken into consideration while employing him.

Regular meetings with the drivers should be convened to ensure that strangers are not allowed inside the vehicles.

In a case at Saroornagar, the van driver allowed a stranger who allegedly misbehaved with the students.

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