Following the government’s decision to form a committee for the regulation of the school bus fare, Jammu and Kashmir Joint Coordination Committee of Private Schools said the school buses are plying purely on no-profit no-loss basis.
Chairman JKJCCPS Showkat M Chowdhary said the schoolauthorities provide bus services to the students to facilitate their smoothtransportation on a no-profit-no-loss basis.
He said JKJCCPS has already submitted the monthly expensesto Transport Commissioner, Regional Transport Officer, and Director EducationKashmir incurred on account of running the buses.
“School buses are used only to ferry students in the morningand afternoon hours. It is not used for any commercial purposes. We have givendetails of Rs 2000 minimum expenditure incurred on a student per month,” saidChowdhary.
President JKJCCPS said even the banks have also worked outthat a minimum of Rs 2000 expenses per student per month will make the busservices viable.
“If we don’t charge Rs 2000 per month from a student, thenBank’s don’t finance the schools for the buses as charging less than Rs 2000will not make it viable and it will be a loss-making service,” he said.
He said it also not mandatory for the parents to avail busservices if they can make their own arrangements.
JKJCCPS has urged the committee headed by AdditionalTransport Commissioner to take into considerations the expenses alreadysubmitted with the department before finalizing the bus fares for the schools.
JKJCCPS President also urged the Commissioner that schoolsmay be allowed to charge half bus fee during two months of winter break.