<![CDATA[The Authorities to conduct mandatory training for drivers and conductors A day after the assault on students by a private bus crew at Nettoor, the district administration, Motor Vehicles Department, and the police have launched a crackdown on private bus workers. District Collector K. Mohammed Y. Safirulla said a special one-day training would be made mandatory for drivers and conductors of private buses to inculcate in them good manners and driving culture. On people with criminal antecedents sneaking in as private bus workers, Mr. Safirulla said it was for bus owners to check the background of people they employ. He urged owners not to employ people with dubious background. The police have issued strict guidelines to educational institutions to instruct students to maintain queues before board buses. “The cooperation of all stakeholders is necessary to put in place an orderly system as the police can intervene only in case of violation of rules. Bus operators should allow entry to students, and failure to do so amounts to permit violation. Similarly, students should board buses in batches rather than all cramming into the same bus,” said Mr. P. Vijayan, Inspector General of Police, Ernakulam Range. On a system to verify the background of bus employees, Regional Transport Officer Reji P. Varghese said the possibility of introducing badge system for drivers and conductors based on their participation in the training programme would be explored in consultation with the District Collector. Meanwhile, bus owners wondered as to how they could verify the background of their employees since it was clear that anyone with a past to hide would not voluntarily disclose antecedents. “We are ready to adopt a system whereby a person seeking employment in a bus should produce a letter vouching for his antecedents from the police station,” said M.B. Satyan, president, Kerala Private Bus Operators’ Federation.]]>
