Hyderabad Parents Urge Auto Unions to Exempt School Vehicles from Strike

Parents across Hyderabad have urged auto-rickshaw unions to exempt vehicles ferrying schoolchildren from their proposed strike, expressing concern that disruptions could severely impact students' attendance and preparation ahead of quarterly examinations scheduled for next month.

The parents appealed to both auto-rickshaw unions and the state government to ensure that daily academic schedules are not compromised during the agitation. They also approached the police to seek protection for auto drivers who choose to continue operating school transport services throughout the strike period.

Several parents pointed out that families rely heavily on auto-rickshaws for daily commutes and would struggle to arrange alternative transport. Shaheen Begum, a parent, stated that dropping off and picking up children daily is already challenging, adding that families cannot afford disruptions to studies with examinations approaching next month. She urged unions to exclude autos carrying schoolchildren from the purview of the strike.

Another parent, Safia Begum, explained that the strike would place a heavy burden on single-earner or split households. With her husband working abroad, she noted that her family depends entirely on their auto-rickshaw driver for school transit and would have no viable way to manage daily transportation if operations halted.

Working parents also highlighted practical difficulties in stepping away from employment obligations. Ashish, a parent, stated that working individuals cannot easily take leave from work every day to ferry their children back and forth from school.

In addition to appealing to the unions, parents requested senior police officials to implement preventive security measures. They expressed concern that auto drivers carrying children might be stopped midway, intimidated, or attacked by striking union members, potentially leaving young students stranded on roads.

The parents called for adequate police deployment and monitoring along major routes frequently used by school autos to prevent any untoward incidents. They urged the auto-rickshaw unions to resolve their grievances peacefully without disrupting academic activities or compromising the safety of schoolchildren.