The UT education department will deploy traffic marshals in front of 10 more government schools to ensure the safety of schoolchildren during the opening and closing hours of schools within a month.
The project was started last year on a pilot project basis and traffic marshals were deployed in front of Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS), Dhanas; GGSSS, Sector 20; GSSS, Manimajra; GMSSS, Sector 21; GSSS, Sector 27; GSSS, Sector Raipur Khurd; Government Girls Model Senior Secondary School (GGMSSS), Sector 18; GMSH, Sector 25; GMSH, Sector 43 and GMHS, Sector 41.
The preventive measure was introduced following the death of Anupama, a student of GGMSSS, Sector 18, in 2012 in a road accident. She died after her left leg was crushed by a Chandigarh Transport Undertaking bus when she was returning home.
As the experiment has resulted in better traffic management in front of government schools, the department has now decided to extend the project to other government schools.
As per official information, Government Model Senior Secondary School (GMSSS), Sector 19, GMSSS, Sector 35, GMSSS, Sector 10, GMSSS, Sector 40, GMSSS, Sector 37-B are among 10 schools, which will be directed to begin the process of hiring traffic marshals.
{{/usCountry}}As per official information, Government Model Senior Secondary School (GMSSS), Sector 19, GMSSS, Sector 35, GMSSS, Sector 10, GMSSS, Sector 40, GMSSS, Sector 37-B are among 10 schools, which will be directed to begin the process of hiring traffic marshals.
{{/usCountry}}As per department rules, the traffic marshal should be a retired person above the age of 60 years.
After recruitment, they would be trained on how to handle traffic in front of schools.
Director of public instruction (schools) Kamlesh Kumar said the initiative had produced good results following which it had been extended to 10 other schools. He said the department had also decided to increase their monthly stipend from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,500.
Gurnam Singh, nodal officer of the project, said new traffic marshals would further strengthen the traffic safety system at schools.
Among traffic marshals appointed during the first phase, three were retired police inspectors, who were of great help, he said. These marshals also monitored issues like eve-teasing in front of schools, he added.
“I am sure more experienced people would come forward and help us make every school a safe place”, he added.
As per official information, it is mandatory for traffic marshals to arrive an hour before the opening of the school and at least half an hour before its closing time in the afternoon.