School buses come under thorough inspection
Joint inspection of school vehicles under Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicles (Regulation and Control of School Buses) Rules in Virudhunagar district to ensure safety of students was conducted here on Wednesday.
Collector V.P. Jeyaseelan visited the Armed Reserve Ground where the inspection of school buses were being done by officials from the district administration and the departments of Police, Transport and School Education.
During the inspection, the officials inspected whether the fire fighting equipment were properly maintained in the buses and whether the vehicles had first aid boxes.
The Collector also checked the working of emergency exits in the buses and whether speed governors were fitted in the vehicles so that the drivers cannot operate the buses in higher speed.
As it has been mandated for the school administration to appoint attenders with due licence, the officials verified the licence of the attenders. These attenders have to help the students while boarding and alighting.
The officials also checked whether the footboards of the vehicles were properly designed for the students to easily climb up and down from the buses. As per the rules, the first step should be 25 cm to 30 cm above ground level.
The officials also inspected whether the driver's cabin was duly separated. They also checked the seating arrangment, including whether they were firmly fitted on the floor of the bus. They also tested the stability of the bus floor, railings in the windows to prevent the children from protruding their hands and heads out of the body of the bus.
A total of 819 school buses belonging to 177 private schools have been given licence in Virudhunagar district by different Regional Transport Offices. Among the 569 school buses which were subjected to inspection, 500 buses were cleared for transportation of the students, while 69 buses were rejected for certain shortcomings. The respective school administration has been advised to take corrective measures in those vehicles for another round of inspection.
Medical camps were organised for the school bus drivers on the occasion. Experts from '108' ambulance services demonstrated life-saving techniques and firemen demonstrated fire-fighting techniques to the bus drivers.
Additional Superintendent of Police K. Ashokan; District Officer (Fire and Rescue Services) Chandrasekar; Revenue Divisional Officer- Sattur Sivakumar; Regional Transport Officers, Manickam (Virudhunagar), Chandrasekar (Srivilliputtur), Velumani (Sivakasi); Deputy Superintendent of Police Yogeswaran; District Educational Officer (Private Schools) Subburaj were among those who were present.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
4 days ago
- The Hindu
Taking baby steps to regulate pre-schools
Exactly how many pre-schools are there in Karnataka? The Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL) has no accurate answer to this question, thanks to the fact that there has so far been no system in place for registering all pre-schools in the State. A lack of separate rules and regulations or a consistent monitoring system has led to the mushrooming of private pre-schools or early childhood care education centres across Karnataka. While pre-schools running as part of government and private schools are obtaining permission from the DSEL, most stand-alone pre-schools are operating without any approval. In addition, most of those run by corporates as franchise schools and pre-schools too are operating without a monitoring mechanism. There have been allegations that the government or the DSEL has no control over pre-schools, and parents are being exploited by way of exorbitant fees, expensive textbooks, etc. In addition, questions have been raised about the safety and protection of children. Now, for the first time, the Karnataka government has taken steps to register all types of pre-primary schools, including play homes, Montessori, and nurseries, with objectives including child safety and streamlining of private pre-schools. What order says The DSEL issued an order on May 27, 2025, stating that, as per the Karnataka Educational Institutions (Classification and Registration) Rules, 1997, pre-primary education means non-formal education below the first standard for children between the ages of three and five, whether called play homes, Montessori, nursery, etc. The department stated in the order that all 'newly started' pre-schools must be registered compulsorily. Trusts and school managements have been allowed to apply before starting new private unaided pre-primary schools through the newly developed online module on the Student Achievement Tracking System (SATS) portal. Criteria adopted for registration to start a new private unaided pre-primary school include having a building with a carpet area of one square metre per student, subject to a minimum of 2,000 sq. ft, preferably on the ground floor with a playground, either owned or taken on lease for at least 30 years. In addition, the order states that a building fitness certificate and fire safety clearance certificates should be obtained from the competent authority. Physical safety (infrastructure, health, and transportation), personal and sexual safety, and social and emotional safety should be ensured. 'From this year, registration of all pre-schools has been made mandatory. This order has been sent to all district- and taluk-level officers, who have been instructed to register all types of pre-schools in their jurisdiction. Till now, there were no regulations in the department regarding the registration of pre-schools. We also developed a separate module on the SATS portal for pre-schools to register, and it is mandatory for all new pre-schools to register,' says K.V. Trilokchandra, Commissioner, Department of Public Instruction. The Central Board of Secondary Education has made registration of pre-schools under its jurisdiction mandatory from this academic year. No clarity on numbers According to an estimate, there are around 45,000 pre-schools across the State, out of which about 20,000 are integrated pre-schools in government and private schools, permitted by the DSEL. However, the department does not have information about the number of stand-alone pre-schools, including those run as part of franchise chains. Though some stand-alone pre-schools are run after obtaining permission from the DSEL, the department is not monitoring them in any way, once permitted. Now, although the government has made registration mandatory for new pre-schools starting from 2025-26, there is no clarity on whether these rules apply to existing schools. There is now a demand from parents, educationists, and other stakeholders to issue comprehensive regulations or standard operating procedures (SOPs) applicable to all pre-schools across the State for the safety of children. What are the demands Stakeholders point out that many aspects, including fees, are arbitrary in pre-schools. Although the government has no control over fee fixation in private schools, the rules allow for the regulation of a fee increase of only 10% to 12% a year. In addition, the details of the fees charged by private schools have to be published on the notice board. However, since none of these rules apply to pre-schools, a modest private pre-school in tier-1 cities like Bengaluru charges ₹30,000 to ₹50,000 per student a year. There are even instances of big private schools charging ₹1 lakh to ₹1.5 lakh a year for pre-school admission. 'Pre-schools have become a big business now, and they charge more than regular schools. Private pre-schools charge huge fees in the name of uniforms, textbooks, and other things. If parents question this, schools tell them to enrol their children elsewhere. That's why the government should bring in fee regulation for private pre-schools,' said Tanuja M., mother of a pre-school child and a bank employee in Bengaluru. Safety of children and the absence of a child-friendly atmosphere are also a concern, as many of the stand-alone pre-schools in the State are being run in residential houses and commercial complexes without any safety measures. 'There is a rule that pre-schools should be started only on the ground floor of a building for the safety of children. However, many stand-alone pre-schools are functioning on the upper floors. Despite several complaints to the Education Department in this regard, nothing has changed. If any accident occurs, who is responsible?' asks B.N. Yogananda, president of the Parents Association. No uniform curriculum Another issue often flagged is the absence of a uniform curriculum in pre-schools. Earlier, the State government had implemented the 'Chili-Pili' curriculum in the pre-schools under its jurisdiction and in those in anganwadi centres. It has now been updated as 'Chili Pili-Plus'. However, there is no uniform or single curriculum applicable to all pre-schools in the State. 'As per rules, there should be no fixed curriculum in pre-schools. Children should have a play-based method of learning. Children are taught to write right from the start in many pre-schools. But language learning includes listening, learning, speaking, reading, and finally writing. Imposing the writing method at the pre-school level will affect the learning of children. Therefore, the State government should take steps to implement a curriculum that is applicable to all pre-schools and is conducive to the overall development of children,' says V.P. Niranjanaradhya, development educationist. Age limit violation Some pre-schools are also found to be enrolling children who are underage, violating the age criteria, leading to problems later when they join primary school. As per the National Education Policy-2020, in July 2022, the DSEL made it mandatory for the completion of six years by June 1 for admission to class 1. Accordingly, the age for admission to Montessori was set at three years, for LKG at four years, and for UKG at five. However, as a temporary step, the department relaxed the six-year age cap for school enrolment for two years. According to that order, it was mandatory to follow the age rule from 2025-26. But, despite the order, most pre-schools continue to enrol children who are under the prescribed age. Buckling under pressure, the government recently postponed the implementation of the age limit rule for admission to class 1 to the next year. SOP for pre-schools 'Child protection is a fundamental right in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The UNCRC talks of children's survival rights, developmental rights, protection rights, and participation rights. In addition, according to Article 39(e) and (f) of the Indian Constitution, it is the responsibility of the State to raise children in a healthy and meaningful way. Even if the State does not run any institutions, it should formulate guidelines or SOPs for those who run institutions. There are no regulations related to the safety of children in pre-schools and protection from exploitation and discrimination. Therefore, in the interest of the protection of children, the Karnataka government should bring a comprehensive regulation or SOP for pre-schools,' says Niranjanaradhya. He points out that Section 11 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, focuses on pre-school education for children. It mandates that the government provide free pre-school education to children above the age of three to prepare them for elementary education and offer early childhood care and education until they turn six. 'The Karnataka Education Act, 1983, has allowed the government to regulate all pre-schools, including government and private ones. Therefore, the State Education Policy that the Karnataka government intends to implement should at least make appropriate rules regarding the regulation and management of pre-schools,' he says. New regulation welcomed Meanwhile, the Associated Managements of Schools in Karnataka (KAMS), an association of private school managements, has termed the order issued by the government on registration of pre-schools as a good start. 'Although the State government had issued an order on the registration of pre-schools in 2018, the department has not implemented it. Despite several appeals and protests, unauthorised pre-schools have continued to mushroom. Since there is no fee regulation, they are exploiting children and parents. In many places, there is not even a minimum infrastructure. Therefore, the government has made the registration of pre-primary schools mandatory from this year, which is a healthy development. From now on, all types of pre-schools in the State must be registered compulsorily. If they are not registered, they will be considered unauthorised. IDs will not be created in SATS for children in such pre-schools,' says D. Shashikumar, general secretary of the KAMS. (Edited by Giridhar Narayan)
India Gazette
4 days ago
- India Gazette
Kerala CM Vijayan declares State Special Disaster after Liberia-flagged container vessel sinks off Kochi
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], May 29 (ANI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday declared the sinking of the Liberia-flagged container vessel MSC ELSA 3 off Kochi as a State Special Disaster. The vessel sank on May 24, prompting concerns about environmental damage and potential impact on coastal communities. Vijayan emphasised that the state's priority is safeguarding the environment and protecting people's livelihoods in coastal areas. The government is taking immediate action to mitigate the disaster's effects and ensure the ecosystem's safety. Speaking on Thursday, CM Vijayan said, ' We are declaring this incident a State Special Disaster. Our priority is to safeguard our environment and protect the livelihoods of our coastal communities' 'The vessel was carrying 643 containers--73 were empty, 13 contained calcium carbide, 46 housed plastic pellets (hydrocarbon-based materials), and one held rubber. Nearly 100 containers are believed to have fallen into the sea. An emergency meeting was held immediately to assess the situation. Experts were consulted on containment and cleanup strategies,' he said further. Declaring a State Special Disaster will enable the government to mobilise resources and take swift action to respond to the situation. The authorities are working to assess the damage and implement measures to prevent further environmental harm. 'Currently, 54 containers have washed ashore along the coastlines of Alappuzha, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram districts. The state has already initiated cleaning operations to protect our fragile coastal ecosystem. This is a shared responsibility, and we must all act together,' said the CM further. 'Volunteers from the Police, Civil Defence, and other local organisations have been deployed in affected areas. Drone surveys of the coastline have been completed. The state has formally requested MSC to remove the sunken vessel from our coastal waters and compensate for the environmental impact, economic losses to tourism, and disruption of livelihoods,' CM mentioned further. Earlier, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) launched a full-scale pollution response operation following the sinking of the Liberian container vessel MV MSC ELSA 3, which went down on May 25, 2025, approximately 15 nautical miles southwest of Alappuzha, Kerala. Within hours of the vessel's submergence, ICG surveillance aircraft detected an oil slick at the site. ICG Ship Saksham, already stationed in a pollution response configuration, was deployed immediately. An ICG Dornier aircraft conducted aerial assessments and dispersed Oil Spill Dispersant (OSD) across the affected zone. By late morning on May 25, the oil slick was spotted drifting east-southeast from the site of the sinking at a speed of 1.5 to 2 knots. Rough sea conditions and strong winds made response efforts more challenging. Despite the hazardous situation, with over 100 cargo containers floating in the area, some breaking apart and releasing their contents, ICG continued operations with full effect. To ensure safety, all passing ships have been diverted, and mariners have been warned to navigate cautiously due to floating debris and potential navigation hazards. All 24 crew members of the Liberian-flagged container Vessel MSC ELSA 3 were rescued safely, by ships of the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy. The vessel was carrying 640 containers, including 13 containing hazardous cargo and 12 with calcium carbide. Additionally, ship had 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil in its tanks. (ANI)
NDTV
5 days ago
- NDTV
Footprints In The Sand: How Pagis' Unique Skill Helped Gujarat During Op Sindoor
They can identify the enemy just by seeing footprints in the white desert sand in Kutch, and technical advancements may have been made, but security forces continue to depend on them for their expertise, including during Operation Sindoor. The unique skill has been perfected by the 'Pagis' (meaning scouts), local residents who walk barefoot in the white desert, their eyes focused on patterns in the vast landscape, noticing even a slight disturbance. After the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India launched Operation Sindoor with precision strikes on terror infrastructure inside Pakistan on May 7. Pakistan then targeted civilian and military sites in India on three successive days, prompting India to strike back and attack military installations, including key air bases. Along with other border states like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan, Gujarat was also targeted by Pakistan, and the services of Pagis were mobilised by the authorities. Gujarat shares a 508-km border with Pakistan. The land border between the two countries is mostly the Rann of Kutch, a massive salt marsh in the Thar Desert that is difficult for security forces to patrol. Additionally, over half a dozen districts in the state share a sea border with the neighbouring country. Officials from the Border Security Force and Gujarat Police said the skills of the Pagis have been utilised during peacetime - when they help thwart the smuggling of drugs and other contraband - and during phases of tensions with Pakistan, including 1965, 1971 and the Kargil war - and the escalation after Operation Sindoor was no different. Pagis use their extraordinary skill and instinct to locate not only places in the desert without any maps but people and animals in a group - guessing their weight, height and even gender - by merely seeing the footprints of both camels and humans. "Naturally, they make the most coveted and unparalleled 'soldiers' on the line of defence," an official said. "We used all our resources, including the Pagis, during Operation Sindoor. We have a sufficient number of Pagis in the border areas, who work for us during peacetime as well. Pagis are experienced, and though some may have retired from our services, we still depend on them for their expertise. They help track the intruders in the border areas," said Vikas Kunda, Superintendent of Police, Kutch West. The Pagis, the officials said, helped them be sure that there were no enemies - terrorists or otherwise - entering Gujarat from the Pakistani side. The Gujarat Police have a post called Pagi and 25 Pagis were recruited by the force in a single year in 2014. Their numbers have only increased since then. The Pagis also serve as guides to the Border Security Force. The BSF conducts extensive patrolling on 168 km of the Pakistani border, where fencing is not feasible. This is where the skills of the Pagi prove especially useful - many Pakistani drug smugglers have been arrested or killed in these areas and drugs worth crores have been seized because of the information provided by them. History Ranchhor Das Rabari, a scout and tracker who helped the Army on the India-Pakistan border at Kutch in 1971, was immortalised by Sanjay Dutt in the Hindi movie 'Bhuj: The Pride of India', which also starred Ajay Devgn. General Sam Manekshaw bestowed the title of Pagi on Ranchhor Rabari for being a scout for the Army since 1965. The title was a mark of respect and authority, recognising his knowledge and unique skills. The Gujarat State School Textbook Board introduced a chapter on Ranchhor Pagi in its Gujarati subject textbook for Class 7 for the 2023-24 academic year. There is also a Ranchhor Das checkpost at the Kutch border named after him. Osman Abdulla Namori, a 71-year-old Paggi, retired from the Gujarat Police two years ago, but his services were called upon during the recent tensions. "My eyes have become weak. But they are still trained to identify the trespasser in the sands. I also help detect thieves and criminals in my area in Nana Dinara (near Khavda village in Kutch district)." About passing on his skills to the younger generation, he says, "My children didn't have the potential to take up my profession. But other youngsters in my village have been inspired. It requires extraordinary skill to read the little nuances from marks in the desert. Not everyone has it," says Namori.
