<![CDATA[MUMBAI: In the wake of the Ryan school tragedy in Gurgaon, Mumbai Police have planned to call for a meeting of the school bus safety committee to review safety parameters being followed for students in school buses across the city. Although the date is yet to be announced, officials have decided to call for the meeting soon. "For the past eight months, we have been demanding a meeting of the school bus committee in the larger interest of students' safety," said Anil Garg of School Bus Owners' Association. "We are glad that the Mumbai City Police will finally call for a meeting where we will demand sensitization of all drivers, conductors and women attendants in Mumbai. Besides, we want the traffic Police and RTO to crack a whip on the unscrupulous school van operators," he said. The committee comprises representatives from Mumbai Police, including the Police Commissioner who is the panel chairman, besides representatives from primary and secondary education departments, school bus operators, RTO, activists and experts. A panel member said the antecedents of every operator, driver, conductor and also women attendants should be checked and there should be compulsory police verification for any past criminal records. A Police officer said the department was trying to devise mechanisms to address student safety across all schools. Reacting to the bus association's demand that action be taken against errant school van operators, a senior RTO official said if vans or private vehicles are used to drop students, the parents should insist that the operator enters into an agreement with the school. "Such vehicles or permit owners can then be compelled to follow all safety rules, appoint experienced drivers, have proper seating facilities, display route maps, install fire extinguisher, grilles on windows etc," he said. <div class="last1brdiv"></div> ]]>
