Sena warns errant bus operators in Pune after child's death

Pune: If school buses flout rules flagrantly, then why was the Regional Transport Office (RTO) not taking any action all this while? The RTO has come under severe scanner from political activists following the death of three-and-a-half-year-old Shiven Gupta who was crushed under the wheels of his school bus.

MiD DAY on March 3 had reported how buses ferrying school children were not painted the mandatory yellow colour and did not have safety features like grills and fire extinguishers.

When this reporter visited the RTO head office to meet Regional Transport Officer Chandrakant Kharatmal, political activists of the Shiv Sena had gheraoed Kharatmal inside his office demanding immediate action against errant bus operators.

Kharatmal prevaricated questions on when the RTO would bring errant bus operators to book.

Shiv Sena leader Milind Kachi said that all the party wanted was the RTO to give a date as to when the drive will begin following which the Sainiks would leave peacefully.

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"Let it be seven days, seven weeks or seven years. But just give us a date when the RTO will commence the drive. Why can't he even do such a simple thing?" asked Kachi.  

Sounding the trademark Sena warning, another leader Santosh Bhutkar said "We will wait to see if any action is being taken. If not, then be ready to face our wrath the Sena style."

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Asked when the RTO would initiate action, all that a visibly upset Kharatmal said was "We will do it soon."

Kharatmal denied that the RTO had limited manpower and resources and insisted the department had done all its duties diligently with 'creditable results'. Finally, after the Sainiks intensified their agitation, Kharatmal pacified them saying the RTO would take action that day itself.

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The Sena leaders also made Kharatmal sign a protest letter.

The Pawar Public School gave ambiguous answers when the reporter pointed out that it was the school's responsibility also to look into buses' upkeep even if they are contracted.

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Principal Dr Anjali Gurjar said the arrested attendants were the best in the school. "Even other parents will vouch for it. They had to be arrested because of Wednesday's incident. The police will take appropriate action," he said.

Jayshree Venkatraman, principal of DAV school said "We have tightened the system in our school after Wednesday's incident. This morning we spoke to the drivers, conductors and the students after we received some complaints about negligence. Adequate warning has been given to them. For the past few years, we have been arranging workshops for drivers and conductors on safety measures, body language and verbal communications."

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Lily Patel, president of the Headmasters Association in Pune and principal of Sardar Dastur Hoshang Boys' School, said that they have not taken any immediate actions because of the SSC examinations.

"But our safety measures are in place. We have students, teachers and peons standing near the gate after classes are over and they keep track of students or drivers who do not follow rules and regulation. Even though the buses are private, the principals keep interacting with them on a daily basis."

The attendants and the driver who were arrested following a complaint by the Pawar Public School were granted bail today. They were attendants Jayashree Tambe (30) from Malwadi in Hadapsar, Sujata Bhambe (31) from Keshavnangar in Mundhwa and driver Bandu Jadhav (31) from Majri.