‘65% J&K children face dangerous school commute’
Srinagar, Apr 23: Every morning across Jammu and Kashmir, thousands of children step out for school — some walking along busy roads without footpaths, others crammed into auto-rickshaws, or travelling in buses that may or may not meet safety norms. What should be a routine journey is increasingly turning into a daily risk, as systemic gaps in transport safety and infrastructure continue to endanger young lives.
A recent research study by the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Er. Mubashir Jan, published in the International Journal for Research Trends and Innovation (IJRTI), has brought these concerns into sharp focus, revealing that a majority of schoolchildren in the Union Territory commute without access to safe and regulated transport systems. The study notes that despite enforcement measures such as e-challaning and routine safety checks, "a significant gap continues to exist" in ensuring secure travel for children.
One of the most striking findings is that nearly 65 per cent of children in Jammu and Kashmir lack access to school-affiliated transport, forcing families to depend on private vehicles, shared autos, or walking. This not only places the responsibility of safety largely on parents but also exposes children to unregulated and often unsafe travel conditions.
The study highlights that children are among the most vulnerable road users, frequently navigating roads as pedestrians, cyclists, or passengers in vehicles that are not designed with their safety in mind. "The road environment is rarely developed to consider the needs of children," it observes, pointing to a critical gap in planning and policy.
Backing these concerns with national data, the research notes that India accounts for one of the highest shares of road crash deaths globally. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, over 11,000 children lose their lives annually in road accidents, accounting for 7.4 per cent of total fatalities. Additionally, more than 13,000 deaths occur near school and college zones, underscoring the dangers surrounding educational institutions themselves.
A study by National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), cited in the report, further reveals that about 2 per cent of injured children are likely to suffer permanent disabilities, with a strong link between road injuries, mode of travel, and distance to school — factors that are particularly relevant in Jammu and Kashmir's varied terrain and dispersed habitations.
While safety regulations exist on paper, their implementation remains inconsistent. Under the Motor Vehicles Act and AIS-063 guidelines, school buses are required to have features such as speed governors, fire detection systems, emergency exits, CCTV cameras and trained attendants. However, the study flags instances of non-compliance and weak monitoring mechanisms.
More critically, it points out the absence of uniform safety guidelines for private transport modes such as vans and auto-rickshaws, which are widely used by schoolchildren. This regulatory gap leaves a large section of students outside the ambit of formal safety standards.
Infrastructure around schools also emerges as a major concern. As per Indian Roads Congress protocols, school zones should have speed limits of 20-25 km/h, proper signage, zebra crossings, and traffic calming measures. In reality, many schools lack these basic features, with encroachments, unregulated parking, and the absence of crossing guards exposing children to moving traffic during peak hours.
Jammu and Kashmir's school education system — comprising nearly 28,800 schools and over 27 lakh students — adds scale to the challenge. With around 80 per cent of schools being government-run, often located in areas with limited infrastructure, ensuring safe access becomes even more critical.
The study also points to behavioural issues such as rash driving, overloading of vehicles, and lack of awareness among drivers and parents. With more families opting for private or self-driven modes of transport in recent years, the responsibility for ensuring safety has become increasingly decentralised.
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