The Maradu accident has turned a wake-up call for authorities with the District Collector issuing a slew of instructions.All kindergartens and play schools should register with the Social Justice Department within a month
KOCHI: A day after two children and the helper of a daycare died after a school van plunged into a temple pond at Maradu, the District Collector on Tuesday made registration compulsory for all the kindergartens and play schools functioning in the district. According to District Collector K Mohammed Y Safirulla, the owners of all kindergartens should complete the registration process within a month.
“ Since there is no rule mandating the registration of kindergartens and play schools, the details of such schools are not available with the district administration. But in the wake of the Maradu accident, we have decided to bring all such schools under one umbrella to ensure safety. All schools in the district should register their institution with the Social Justice Department by July 13,” said the Collector while talking to the reporters after the meeting attended by Additional District Magistrate, Deputy Transport Commissioner, RTOs, Assistant Commissioner Narcotics and Deputy Director of Education.
According to the District Collector, these institutions should provide details regarding the number of children, teachers, the experience of drivers, vehicles and infrastructure available with the firm to the Social Justice Department.
“This will be a great relief to the rescue team while dealing with any kind of accident. The registration is mainly aimed at disaster mitigation,” added the Collector.He also directed the Motor Vehicles Department to collect the LSGD license, registration details and other documents while the school authorities bring their vehicle for registration and fitness test. Besides, he also directed the schools, including the kindergarten and playschools, to keep a list of students who use their vehicles for transportation.
Safety stickers
The Collector also directed the school authorities to affix the safety stickers issued by the Motor Vehicle Department before June 20. “The registration and permit of the vehicles will be suspended with immediate effect if any school vehicles ply without affixing the safety stickers from the MVD,” the Collector said in the meeting. The District Collector’s directive came after the MVD officer informed that around 20 per cent of vehicles are yet to get the safety stickers.
Awareness class
All school authorities and PTA officials should compulsorily attend a one-day long training which will be headed by the MVD and Police Department. “Already there are several guidelines set up by the MVD for the school vehicles. But many of them are still ignorant about it. For instance, all vehicles should keep a laminated list of the school students in the vehicle. The awareness classes will be mainly based on the guidelines,” said KM Shaji, Enforcement RTO who attended the meeting.
MVD’s drive
Mechanical defects- 7
Overload- 15
NO valid records: 11
Without pre-monsoon sticker -27
Total check reports issued-64
Coumpund fee collected- 32,300
Sidewall at the accident spot
The District Collector also directed the Maradu Municipality to construct a side wall for the pond. The Collector also gave one month time to the local body to complete the construction.
Guidelines
Deadline for registration of kindergarten and play schools: July 13
Last date for affixing the Safety sticker: June 20
The District Collector also appointed Assistant Commissioner Narcotics to coordinate all the decisions taken in the meeting.
Compolsury inspection of school vehicle up to June 20