Jammu: Shiv Sena (UBT) Jammu-Kashmir unit today, on the occasion of World Anti-Human Trafficking Day, took out an awareness march with the help of school students regarding the safety of children and demanded strict implementation of the standards set in school vehicles.
Led by party state chief Manish Sahni, Shiv Sainiks and students of IDPS took out a march holding placards ‘Stay Alert Stay Safe’, ‘Safety Knocks Childhood Rocks’,’ Vigilance is Victorious ‘, etc. from Jammu Press Club to Maharaja Harisingh Statue site at Tawi Bridge.
Sahni recalled the revolutionary changes brought about by Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir in the field of education and said that in 1930, the provision of free and compulsory primary education for the age group of 6-14 years was implemented in the state.
Sahni shared some shocking statistics, saying that more than 5,400 children have gone missing in J&K and Ladakh from 2018 to 2022.
Sahni, while describing the safety of students as of utmost importance, reminded of the guidelines issued by the Hon’ble High Court in the year 2018 regarding making GPS tracking system mandatory in school vehicles. He further said that the standards set by most schools have been fulfilled.
Pioneer in abiding by the above guidelines, IDPS, whose students are part of the march today to spread the message of safety. On the other hand, many schools, including those in remote and border areas of the city, are completely ignoring the said safety standards, and the administration is also not taking any strict cognizance of it.
Whereas some schools have outsourced the transport system, which openly flouts all the guidelines. These things caused mental anxiety to the parents till their loved ones returned safely. Sahni has advocated strict attention to safety features like GPS, CCTV cameras, fire extinguishers, first aid in school vehicles, and strict rules for the use of privateम vehicles, along with heavy fines and legal action in case of negligence. Sahni thanked Dr. Suminder Singh (MD Operation, IDPS Sunjwan ) and his team for his cooperation for the above nobal cause campaign. Sahni has appealed to the principals of the schools to strictly implement the above standards and to the parents to send their children only in vehicles that meet the safety standards. Sahni said that his team will also keep a close watch.