Post crackdown, school van drivers seek time to make improvements

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 19

Members of the School Van Union met the Deputy Commissioner (DC) here on Wednesday. Submitting a memorandum of demands, the union members requested the DC that keeping in view ongoing exams in various schools, van owners and drivers must be given some time to make necessary improvements in their vehicles.

Davinder Pal Singh, president of the union, said, “We must be given some time so that all traffic norms can be followed in a proper manner. We have also requested for full payment of 12 months from schools. Besides, on the pattern of neighbouring states such as Haryana and Rajasthan, school vans must be exempted from tax. Heavy penalties against school vans must be done away since van drivers meet their household expenses through small earnings.”

After a school van caught fire in which four children burnt alive, the authorities have tightness noose around school vehicles flouting traffic norms.

The city police have impounded several school buses and issued challans for not adhering to traffic rules.