In the year 2008, in the Sichuan province of China, a major

earthquake struck and killed and maimed thousands of people. It

devastated 3/4th of China’s total area and caused losses of more than 1
million USD. You must be wondering why I am talking about china in
the middle of this heated debate. I’ll tell you- it is because I am going
to talk about a young hero, a young hero who rescued 15 even
younger children in a school bus.
Here he was, sitting in his school bus waiting to be driven to the
school, with the noisy lot of youngsters beside him. Then calamity
struck and the bus was tossed to one side, with the driver dead and
buildings falling about them, there was little they could do. Until Tong
Shiqiang – our hero- took things into his own hands. He jumped into
the driver’s seat and drove away to safety- outside the city. Saving the
lives of 15 other juveniles!
He is nominated to win the National Bravery Award at the heroic
age of 14!
You can imagine what would have happened to those same 15
youngsters if Tong had not been able to drive.
Good morning everyone, I am Neerja Bakshi and am here to
propagate that minors should be given driving permits.
We are all growing up, pretty fast that too. Times are changing
and so are the generations. What people once knew in their 20s we
know in our teens, what we knew as teens we know now in childhood.
When all are growing up so fast; becoming doctors and engineers at
just 19, why shouldn’t we be allowed to drive? Once it was necessary
to be 21 to vote, now we can at just 18! Children couldn’t work till they
were 18! Now its only 16! A year back a boy needed to be 21 yrs old
when he got married, and a girl 18. Now a boy can be 18 and a girl 16.
If our government can expect minors to make some of the biggest
decisions and choices in life, can’t they be expected to drive? My
worthy opponents certainly don’t think so!
In European countries minors actually can drive, they can get
learner permits at 14 and proper licenses at 18. Germany is even
manufacturing special cars for minors- dually operated. The tutor or
adult sitting in the passenger seat can start controlling the car in case
of something wrong.
Even Americans get learning permits at 14! What are we Indians
trying to prove? That Americans and Europeans are smarter, more
mature and better than us? Us Indians? I don’t agree with that, I don’t
think you do either but my worthy opponents do.
Quoting famous author Lawana Blackwell “age is no guarantee of
maturity” It just shows that even a 40 yr old grown up and be the most
immature person and a 10 yr old can be more mature than her
grandfather. So it’s demeaning to brand teenagers as immature when
their parents can be even worse!
 I am absolutely sure none of you in the audience would not want
to drive! But my worthy opponents…..
Thank you.

Just recently our government brought the minimum age limits for marriage down
from 21 for boys and 18 for girls to 18 for boys and 16 for girls. If our Indian government
expects 18 yr olds and 16 yr olds to make the most important decision of their life, can’t a
14 yr old be expected to drive to and from school? It just doesn’t make sense!