The Hindu : National : Punish parents for accidents caused by minors: Renuka

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Punish parents for accidents caused by minors: Renuka

Special Correspondent

Asks Transport Ministry to amend law

NEW DELHI: Concerned at increasing road accidents involving vehicles driven by minor boys, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury has suggested that parents of the erring children be punished.

Pointing out that children were not aware of the risks involved in minor mistakes committed on roads, Ms. Chowdhury said she would write to the Road Transport Ministry, which should amend the law to bring parents into its ambit to deal with such cases. She specifically referred to the fatal accident on the Gurgaon Expressway, involving a car carrying three teenagers and driven by an under-aged boy.

“The parents should be responsible enough not to allow an under-aged child to drive. This is the reason they are not allowed to vote, drink. The father’s licence should be taken back and only then will there be a check on such incidents,” she said speaking at inauguration of a facilitation centre of her Ministry here on Tuesday.

Responding to queries from journalists, the Minister suggested mobile phones be not allowed in schools.

“The Human Resource Development Ministry should write to schools about banning the use of mobile phones.”

The use of mobile phones by pregnant women should also be discouraged as recent studies claimed that it could be harmful to them.

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