Representative image. File | Photo Credit: M. Srinath
When schools across Tamil Nadu reopened on Monday (June 2, 2025) after a summer holiday, a view of private authorickshaws and supplies overloaded with children became a common view of the overloaded roads in Chennai. This caused concerns about parents.
“It seems that neither school authorities nor drivers want to take responsibility for the safety of children. In the event of an accident, who will be to blame?” Vidya Rajkumar, an activist for the child’s rights and the parent asked. According to the state government, AuthorickShaw can carry a maximum of five children up to 14 or three adult passengers, with the exception of the driver.
R. Anushka, a class 8 student at a private school, told time when there were six children in Authorickshaw, including her. “One of them sat next to the driver, which is dangerous,” she added.
In 2024, the Ministry of Education issued instructions for school buses operated by private schools, which included the mandatory appointment of women assistants, employing drivers with a minimum experience of 10 years and without police cases against them and GPS installation and closed circuit in vehicles. Schools had to record details of vehicles, drivers and assists of the Portal of the Information System for Education (EMIS).
Background checks
School heads in the city said parents were obliged to thoroughly test the drivers and their vehicles before they hire them. “We recommended parents to check the background of drivers and check vehicles before using services,” said High School in Tambarama N. Vijayan, correspondent Zion Matriculation Higher.
“There was no control about these vehicles. As a working parent, we are doing the driver, but for them it has become a common practice to pack as many children as possible in their vehicles,” said K. Rupa, a thirteen -year -old parent.
S. Arumainathan, the President, the Association of Social Batch Students Tamil Nadu, said that the school education department should issue this issue to other departments and schools. “But the traffic police and transport department should also apply and take steps to limit the problem,” he said.
Greater Chennai, Chief Officer of the Traffic Police, said there were no complaints about the problem. “After complaints, the measures can be taken and a special drive will be taken to intervene such practices,” the official added.
Published – 2 June 2025 22:16
