Parents urge school autos to stay out of strike in Hyderabad
Hyderabad parents have urged auto-rickshaw unions to exempt vehicles carrying schoolchildren from the proposed strike, citing upcoming quarterly examinations. They also sought police protection for drivers and children, fearing disruptions could affect attendance, studies and student safety
Hyderabad: Parents in the city urged auto-rickshaw unions to exempt vehicles ferrying schoolchildren from the proposed strike, saying students should not be made to suffer or miss classes and examinations over the unions’ demands.
With quarterly examinations scheduled next month, parents said any disruption in transportation could affect the preparation and attendance of children. They also appealed to the government and police to ensure the safety of auto drivers who continue to transport students during the strike.
“Already, it is difficult for us to drop and pick up our children from school every day. With examinations next month, we cannot afford any disruption to their studies. The unions should keep autos carrying schoolchildren out of the strike,” said Shaheen Begum, a parent.
Another parent, Safia Begum, said the situation was particularly difficult for families where one parent is away for work. “My husband stays abroad and there is nobody else at home to drop my children at school and bring them back. We depend entirely on the auto-rickshaw driver. If autos stop operating, I do not know how I will manage their school transportation,” she said.
Ashish, another parent, said working parents could not simply take leave from their jobs to ferry children to school. “I have a job and cannot bunk work every day to drop and pick up my children,” he said.
Parents urged senior police officials to take preventive measures to ensure that auto drivers carrying children are neither attacked nor forced to stop midway. They said any intimidation could leave children stranded on roads and put them at risk.
They appealed to the police to provide adequate protection on routes used by school autos and prevent any untoward incident. The parents also urged auto unions to resolve their grievances peacefully without affecting academic activities, examinations or the safety of schoolchildren.