No intention to make school buses compulsory: Govt

SHILLONG, MAR 22: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday said that the government does not intend to make school buses compulsory in the state.

Replying during the question hour, Sangma said a total of 15 schools within the Laitumkhrah-Dhankheti area have agreed to avail the services of the buses sanctioned by the state government under the Planning, Investment Promotion & Sustainable Development department as a mean to decongesting Shillong city.

He informed that the school bus services are being run by a society after many schools have expressed their unwillingness to run the same citing that their primary objective is to teach.

According to him, of the Rs 11.30 crore earmarked for the project, Rs 0.17 crore has been spent so far.

Over 60 per cent of more than 27,000 students studying in the Laitumkhrah-Dhankheti area are using private mode of transportation.

Sangma also assured to look into the suggestion of the AITC Nongthymmai legislator Charles Pyngrope by sending officials of the society (STEMS) to study the model adopted by the BK Bajoria School in running its school bus service successfully all over the city.

The chief minister said that the government has come up with the model of school buses after conducting over 6,000 surveys and holding consultations with over 22 schools and 1,000 parents.

Stating that there will be strict measures to be put in place, Sangma said, “We will have five CCTV cameras (in each of the 30 seater mini diesel buses) for the safety and security of the children.”

He also assured to expand the bus services to other parts of the city and the state if the implementation is successful.

On the suggestion of VPP legislator from Nongkrem Ardent M Basaiawmoit to stop issuing permission for school establishment in the city to solve the congestion problem, the chief minister however said, “We have to balance things out as education is very important and schools have to be made accessible.” He added that permission should be granted based on the condition that they should have space for parking but to say not to allow school establishment may not be right for the government.

By Our Reporter