'Parents need counselling'

NAGPUR: The recent accident wherein two ITI students were mowed down by a car driven by a 17-year-old at South Ambazari road is a perfect example of negligent parental supervision. "If such parenting continues mishaps cannot be ruled out", said a panellist participating in a discussion 'Just an accident' organized in city on Sunday.
Panellists including psychiatrist Dr Sudhir Bhave, Milind Apte, principal of Center Point School, Kana Roy Choudhari, principal of Modern School SN Joshi, advocate Anand Parchure and additional commissioner of police Anup Kumar Singh were discussing if children or their parents are responsible for uncontrolled behaviour of children.
Awareness in parents is more important along with lessons of self discipline. "If parents do not to give vehicles to their underage wards and make them aware of traffic rules, there will be no need for policing", the panellists said.
Initiating the debate, psychiatrist Dr Sudhir Bhave said, "Though I would describe this incident as a teenage thing, it is also a failure of parents to perform their duty. Underage kids driving vehicles has become a norm these days. If parents avoid giving teenagers such facilities, such mishaps could be avoided in future."
Principal of Modern School, SN Joshi said, "Parents should teach discipline to their wards." Principal of Center Point School Kana Roy Choudhari said that she is ashamed that all the boys involved in the accident were from her school. She opined that underage driving should be made heavily punishable. "We punish our students for such things which every other school should also follow," she added.
Jayant Apte of Dhyan Prabodhini said, "Students never make mistakes, its parents who always force them to do such things. Teenagers today are given mobiles, two-wheelers Internet etc. Why should kids be given such things? Many students with whom I interacted have said that its parents who force them to do such things. Its parents who need counselling."
Additional commissioner of police Anup Kumar Singh said unfortunately accidents cases are on the rise in city. He accepted that police failed to take action because of low manpower in traffic police department. "It is the responsibility of all sections of society to abide by the law and prevent such mishaps in future," he said.
If parents take responsibility not to give vehicles to their underage wards and make them aware of laws of traffic, there will be no need for strict policing.