The Delhi Contract Bus Association on Friday criticised the new guidelines issued by the transport department on appointment of drivers for school buses have been criticised by terming it as “impractical” to implement.
According to the new guidelines, the drivers from outside Delhi will not be permitted to drive school buses in the city and they should be holding a Class 12-pass certificate. The association’s concern is that there is already an acute shortage of school bus drivers in the city and with the new guidelines issued on January 23, the number will drastically reduce to half.
Expressing discontent over the recent guidelines, Delhi Contract Bus Association general secretary Harish Sabharwal said, “It is utter discrimination against people from outside Delhi. How can we get so many drivers from Delhi only? Most of our school drivers are from outside Delhi as there are not enough people ready to take up this profession here. Moreover, they do not hold Class 12-pass certificate. If they had this much qualification, why would they apply for driver’s job?”
If the DTC and cluster buses are allowed to keep drivers from other states then the same rules should be applied for school bus drivers, he added. The transport department on January 23 issued a total of 27 guidelines, out of which five are strongly opposed by the association.
According to transport minister Ramakant Goswami, “We would hold a meeting soon to find out if there is really shortage of drivers or not. And if the problem is there, we will try to find some solution.”
Considering the record as on September 30, 2012, there are 2,91,230 commercialised vehicles registered in Delhi and 75 per cent drivers available for those buses.