Out of the 800 school vans in operation, only 200 have so far been registered with NTA. President of the association Nazir Junggee, has asked van owners be accompanied by helpers from the start of the new term and gave them the assurance that they will not be violating the legislation even if their helpers do not have an identification card issued by NTA. He emphasised that it is not the card, but the physical presence of helpers which will help to ensure children’s safety.
However, senior transport controller at NTA Cyril Appajala said that surprise checks will be carried out and sanctions applied right from the beginning as the the new regulations are already in force. Appajala added that the law must be complied with. Today, all drivers of school vans must be accompanied by helpers in possession of a card issued by the NTA. Those who contravene the law should therefore expect to be sanctioned as from August 20.
Since the new rules require that drivers of school vans should be accompanied by helpers who have been duly registered, the ‘Komité Van Lékol’ has made it clear that this condition poses several problems for owners of school vans.
“We will have to employ an assistant and grant them sick and local leaves, among others, and provide for his replacement when he is absent .This will involve additional expenses in terms of salaries. Moreover, it is difficult to find helpers at this period of the year,” said Junggee.
