While welcoming the guidelines of the state government for the capacity of students in school vans, the All Manipur School Students’ Transporter Association (AMSSTA) has called for implementing a transport policy and transport carrier permit for school van services.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, the association said it welcomes the guidelines of the government but appealed to stop drive and issuing of TR/challan. It also expressed disappointment that the step of withdrawal of driving license will be taken up.
During an interaction with the Imphal Free Press, AMSSTA president Maibam Kenedy Singh said that as per guideline of the state government the carrying capacity per school van is 10 students and the driver.
He said the association also has its own rules and regulations which is, a van can accommodate students upto 18 seats and 12 seats for high school students and higher secondary students respectively.
While following the guidelines and to continue the van service, monthly fare of the van service has to be increased. The monthly fare has to be borne by the guardians or parents and not by the government, he said, adding that around 80 per cent of the family are from economically poor backgrounds.
ALSO READ: Manipur: Police to act against overloaded school vans
The association and the government need to bring an amicable solution to solve the issue instead of continuing the drive against the school van, he said. He cautioned that if the government fails to listen to the issues of the association, then school van services might be stopped indefinitely.
At least 4,000 school vans are registered under the association, however, after the May 3 incident over 100 school vans have stopped their services. The Manipur crisis has also hugely impacted the school van services due to frequent highway blockade, shortage of petrol and others, he added.
The school vans are also providing free service for the students from the martyred families of the ongoing crisis and for the internally displaced students, he said. It is unfortunate that some netizens are spreading misleading information against school van services, he lamented.
He said the association is waiting for approval of appointment with the Manipur government to discuss the matter and to bring an amicable solution.
