The Ministry of Education received 128 reports from schools on measures taken to monitor compliance with student transport facilities issued by the authorities. The education commissioner had ordered schools in the district to submit the reports by November 7.

Joint Commissioner for Education Dilip Jagdale said the department had received complaints, suggestions and objections related to school transport safety. The report seeks reasons for the delay in meeting school transport safety standards, including installation of CCTV cameras, staffing in school transport vehicles, details of bus drivers and checking the morality of the school and bus staff.

The alleged sexual abuse of two minor girls by a school van driver in Pune on September 30 has prompted authorities to step up efforts to ensure safe school transport. The Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) has also urged schools to recruit female staff for school vehicles.

Guidelines from the state Department of Education include installation of CCTV coverage, formation of safety committees and safe transportation for students above 15 years of age. Their checklist includes background checks on contract staff, a complaint box, setting up a student safety committee, an assistant in the elementary, upper elementary, and student bathrooms from the classroom 6 and regular meetings of the committee against sexual harassment. Under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Act, non-compliance by the school with rules and regulations may attract punishment, officials said.