Penalty for parents, wards for riding bikes to school without helmets

Debamoy Ghosh, MP. 7 May 2017, Kolkata: Guardians ferrying their wards to schools in motorcycles were instructed to wear helmets or be ready to be slapped with heavy penalties.

Some private schools in Murshidabad district started the new rule under which guardians and their children, going to school in motor bikes, would have to wear helmets.

Such stringent steps to curb accidents was taken up by the schools in Kolkata long back but it was for the first time that the same was copied in Murshidabad, where school administrations and the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of the district took steps against irresponsible motor bike riders.

"We do not want to see the bare heads of guardians and children coming to our school in motorcycles and scooters. They have to wear helmets, otherwise punishment is ready for them," said a teacher.

What is the punishment? "The offending guardians have to cough up a heavy fine and the students would have to face deduction of marks from their annual marksheets," another teacher explained.

How it would be checked? "The security personnel will check every two-wheelers coming to the school premises and will take note. They will write comments mentioning the vehicles' registration numbers. The offending guardians will have to pay fines during the submission of the monthly school fee," said a teacher.

"We give 20 marks to the students for their good conducts in school. Those 20 marks would be deducted from their annual examination if we find students without helmets," the teacher added.

Chairperson of the Murshidabad CWC Shabnam Ramaswami, who is a director of some private schools, recently instructed the schools to take such actions.

A source confirmed that the schools would not only take action against guardians and students but the teachers and non-teaching staff would also not be spared.

"Not only students, if teachers and non-teaching staff break the rule and are seen coming to the school riding bikes without helmets 

would surely be penalised. Everybody would have to be honest with their approach. The rule is same for all," the source said.

The decision came at a time when a school student died in a road accident a week ago in the district. Following the death of 9-year-old student Arghya Dutta and his father Manab Dutta (42) while riding a motorcycle, the CWC took the decision.

"The offending teachers may lose their one day salary. The teachers have to take responsibility to spread the campaign among the students and guardians. They would not be spared if they are found guilty," the source added.

"In February 2016, the number of deaths in road accidents in Murshidabad was 44. This year, the number reduced to 22 till February. State government's Safe Drive Save Life campaign played a major role to spread awareness," said a police source.