Ban on autos for school kids irks parents, drivers

Patna: Auto rickshaw owners, drivers and parents are up in arms over the recent state govt's order banning use of three-wheelers for transporting children to schools across the state, including Patna, from April 1. They have urged the govt to revisit the decision and make it viable for both — parents and those engaged in this business.
School managements have started apprising the parents and guardians about the latest govt order so that they could make alternative arrangements for sending their kids to schools after the ban comes into effect. Meanwhile, many auto riskshaw owners have started replacing their old vehicles with vans, considered safe, while many drivers are finding it hard to retain their jobs because the owners, they say, are opting to drive themselves rather than hire a driver for the new vehicles.
Parents are also complaining because of hiked fares and inconvenience as the bigger vans do not pick and drop the kids at the doorstep. "This order is like a diktat taken in haste and without taking into consideration the parents' preferences and problems. The new direction will not only raise monthly charges, but it will become inconvenient too for us," said Gudiya Devi, whose daughter will now go in Class IV and has been going to school by auto from the beginning. "Also, my daughter starts throwing up in bus or van, and since auto is comparatively open and airy, she adjusts well in it," she added.
Auto owner-cum-driver Dhananjaya Choudhary, who has problems with one leg and has been carrying schoolchildren for the last 15 years, said that the govt's order was a huge blow for him, as he cannot drive a van, and afford to buy one. "I bought this auto in 2022 by taking a loan, which will be repaid in the next 7-8 instalments," said Choudhary, adding, all the parents of schoolchildren were also against the directive.
Dinesh, who recently replaced his auto with a van to comply with the new rules, also opposed the move though. "Earlier, I had rented one of my three autos and used to pay the driver, but now have replaced all the autos with one van, and will drive self as I cannot afford a driver. What will I earn if I pay Rs 7,000- Rs 8,000 to a driver, besides paying the monthly instalment for the loan I took to purchase the vehicle?," said Dinesh. He further said that even parents were not ready to increase the monthly fair much and they were all at the receiving end due to the rule.
Murtaza Ali, general secretary of Bihar Rajya Auto rickshaw and Tempo Chalak Sangh said that the govt order would make many auto rickshaw owners and drivers unemployed. "There are over 10,000 autos in Patna alone, engaged in carrying students to schools and many of them cannot not afford to switch over to buying vans for carrying on the work. And if few manage to buy ones, then the fares will go up for parents. So, the new direction is not being welcomed from any side," said Ali, adding, instead of banning the autos completely, the govt should fix capacity for carrying pupils and allow those with proper papers to do the job.