News has emerged regarding a school holiday in Punjab this Thursday. All private schools in the districts of Bathinda, Mansa, and Barnala will remain closed on September 3. This is because private school and college bus operators from across Punjab have announced a state-level ‘Mahapanchayat’ (grand gathering) in Bathinda on that day. Private school bus drivers, conductors, and bus owners from all districts will participate in this event.
Consequently, this decision is expected to significantly impact school transport services, leading to the closure of private schools. The decision was taken by the Federation of Private Schools and Associations of Punjab (FAP) in light of the bus and van operators’ Mahapanchayat. Providing details, Federation President Jagjit Singh Dhuri stated that the bus operators are organizing this state-level Mahapanchayat in Bathinda to protest against the regulations imposed by the administration on school buses and vans.
Gurpreet Singh Saran, President of the Punjab School and College Private Bus Transport Union, explained that they have organized the Mahapanchayat rally at the Bathinda Grain Market on September 3 to press for their demands, with drivers, conductors, and bus owners from across the state participating. He stated that the government has long ignored their demands. No transport official or minister is granting them an audience, despite the fact that lakhs of families are connected to them through the service of transporting children whose parents place their trust in them. Thousands of drivers and conductors are associated with them, yet the government has sidelined them. He pointed out that the same transport policy applies to both their vehicles (small buses) and large buses.
However, while their buses cover a distance of 50 km, other buses travel up to 500 km; therefore, a separate policy should be formulated for them. He stated that if the government does not accede to demands such as revising the transport policy, stopping harassment by RTO officials on the roads, reducing heavy taxes, extending the vehicle age limit from 15 to 25 years, and granting tax exemptions, then this agitation will commence at the district level in the coming days. He added that they urge the government to engage in dialogue and fulfill their demands.
