Girl students from Haryana can now avail free bus rides to school

Haryana Transport minister Krishan Lal Panwar recently announced free bus rides for girl school students in the State, while putting in a stern word for drivers and conductors who misbehave with the students or not allow them to board the vehicles.

The drivers or conductors of Haryana Roadways buses will not misbehave with girl students or prevent them from boarding the buses during to and fro journey to schools, he said. Free travel facility has also been extended to girl students on the State roadways buses, he added. The order came in the wake of complaints by some girl students of Khandra village, who alleged that a bus driver did not halt the bus to allow them to board it.

Haryana is infamous for its skewed sex ratio. However, students of distance learning mode will not be get the benefit of the scheme.

The educational centres, coaching and study centres, distance learning centres and franchise centres of HARTRON and other centres which are affiliated with the universities of other states and are not recognised by the Haryana government would not be covered under this policy, the minister said.

The passes will be issued for a maximum limit of 60km on half-yearly basis on the recommendation of the authorities of the school, or college or institution. The concerned school or college or institution would supply to the concerned Depot of Haryana Roadways a list of the girl students along with an attested copy of the recognition or affiliation certificate issued by the competent authority.

The passes will be issued by the respective General Manager or an officer designated by him as per the list supplied by the school, college or institution, he said.

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Acting swiftly on the complaint, the Transport Minister rang up the General Manager, Haryana Roadways, and directed him to warn the driver and conductor of the bus that such misbehaviour would not be tolerated in the future. He said the order was issued as per the directions of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

Instructions have been issued to the officials of the Transport Department to behave properly with women and senior citizens, Panwar added.