Students Regulate Traffic
It’s 8 a.m. The underpass near Kikani Higher Secondary School wears an unusually calm look.There are no unending honking, no winding queue of vehicles, no anxious faces trying desperately to cross the road. Everything is orderly and the flow of traffic is smooth. Plus-One students of the school have taken up the task of manning the traffic in the area as part of the police’ efforts to involve students in traffic management.Many other school zones in Coimbatore still witness chaotic traffic in the morning and evening owing to heavy influx of vehicles that arrive to drop and pick children. Traffic personnel have a tough time regulating the vehicle flow. Students’ participation has ensured that Kikani School Junction remains a well-regulated stretch.Says Ms. Latha Sekhar, vice-principal of the school: “We decided to give full freedom to students to decide on measures to be taken to ensure discipline on the campus and outside.” It was decided that only Plus-One students are roped in to regulate traffic since students of Plus-Two and Standard X are busy with their studies. have their hands full with regard to studying. Those coming to school from far off places have been exempted. And there is absolutely no compulsion whatsover. Students are drafted to traffic regulation according to order of names appearing in the attendance register.
They are given badges, road safety patrol arm bands and whistles. They work under the supervision of two physical training teachers. Major job is to ensure that vehicles coming to school stay put only for a brief period, says K. Srivatsan of Plus-One. They also escort juniors safely to their classrooms. Students are present on the road from 8 a.m. to 8.30 a.m. when the school commences and again from 3.35 p.m. to 4.15 p.m. when the school disperses, says Kruthika Pshah, Assistant School Pupil leader. And how do the students feel like? “Very satisfying,” they say. “We don’t even feel tired or find it hindering our studies.”
