Question : Transport Service in Schools

(a) whether it is a fact that there is no effective mechanism put in place by Government to ensure safety of school children using private transport service and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government is aware that the number of accidents of school buses/van are increasing due to rash and negligent driving, overcrowding etc.;

(c) if so, the number of such accidents reported during the last three years, year-wise, State/UT-wise; and

(d) whether the Government is considering any proposal with regard to safety of children using private transport and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a): Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) aims to universalize access to elementary education. Under SSA, transport facilities are provided to children enrolled in Government and Government aided schools in remote habitations with sparse populations or in urban areas where availability of land to set up a new school is a problem or to children belonging to extremely deprived groups or to children with special needs (CWSN), who may not find access to schools. During 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16; Rs. 3834.22 lakhs, Rs.2523.585 lakhs and Rs. 4804.62 lakh respectively have been allocated under SSA for transport facilities.


The Ministry of Human Resource Development has issued guidelines dated 9th October, 2014 on safety and security of children to the States/UTs. Central Board of Secondary Education has also issued guidelines dated 8th August, 2012 regarding transport precautions to be observed by schools. These guidelines have been disseminated to various directorates, organizations and institutions including Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti for compliance.



(b) & (c): The SSA programme is being implemented in coordination and consultation with the States/UTs and the approved interventions under SSA are implemented by State Implementing Societies registered in States/UTs. A majority of schools come under the purview of the State governments/UTs and it is for them to have an effective mechanism. No such centralised data on accidents during transportation is maintained by this Ministry.

(d): As indicated above, the Ministry has issued guidelines dated 9th October, 2014 on safety and security of children to the States/UTs. Central Board of Secondary Education has also issued guidelines dated 8th August, 2012 regarding transport precautions to be observed by schools.

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