Now, school bus owners threaten 40% hike in fee

Updated on: Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Several households are feeling the pinch following the hike in petrol prices, but things are set to get worse for parents of school-going children. In a statement released on Wednesday, the School Bus Owners’ Association (SBOA) sought to increase the school bus fee by over 40% in the new academic year.

Bus owners claim this hike is imperative because of the increase in petrol prices and the implementation of safety norms pertaining to school buses. “The new norms prescribed by the School Bus Safety Rules have added to our expenses. We need to hire new personnel and make changes in the existing buses,” SBOA president Anil Garg said. “How does the government expect us to raise the money to cover these expenses?” He asked.

Parents have been protesting against the practice of paying bus fees for a period of one year which includes vacations. Justifying this practice, Garg said, “School bus owners have to pay insurance premium and taxes for the whole year. Moreover, insurance amount has gone up by 70 per cent.”

The association’s demand to hike the school bus fee has not gone down well with the parents. Many parents are still fighting school managements over “exorbitant” fee hikes. “School managements increase the fee whenever they feel like. Now, bus owners want to follow suit,” said Rohit Lalan, a parent. “We have no option but to comply with their demand as we need to send our kids to school,” said Lalan who has been fighting against the management of his son’s school over fee hike.

Indrani Malkani, a member of the government-appointed committee for drafting the rules under the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (Regulations for School Buses) Rules, concurred with Lalan. “The school bus owners hold parents at ransom,” said Malkani. “I understand that there will be a hike in school bus fee now that fuel prices have gone up, but it can’t be so drastic.”

SBOA members and other bus owners are planning to meet the transport secretary and government officials on Friday. Some school principals are likely to accompany the members.

Times View

There is no denying that the hike in fuel prices puts a strain on school bus operators. They also need money to adhere to the new safety rules. Yet the 40% hike in school bus fees seems too steep from a parent’s perspective. After all, these buses don’t operate during vacations or school holidays. Parents are justified in feeling that they are held ransom by school managements and bus operators. The government should keep the parents and children in mind while considering the bus owners’ demand.

Now, school bus owners threaten 40% hike in fee

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