UCPCR asks Govt schools to implement safety norms

While sounding concerned over lax security for the students studying in the Government-run schools, particularly those located in the mountainous parts of the State, Uttarakhand Commission for Protection of Child Rights (UCPCR) chairperson Yogendra Khanduri has asked the State chief secretary to implement safety and security guidelines in such schools as laid down by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).

Khanduri said that the commission had received score of complaints from the people who said that the students were not safe within their school premises because of the dearth of the required security. “The substances of such complaints have been confirmed by the inspection reports submitted by the teams formed by the commission,” he said. He further said that many of the schools located in the mountainous parts of the state are in dilapidated state. “Roads leading to schools are in deplorable condition too. Besides, the students are scared of  being attacked by the wild  animals while they are on their way to  the schools. It is a matter of regret that the security guidelines as laid down by the Union  ministry of human resource development (MHRD) on October 9, 2014 have not been implemented in many of the schools spread across the state and particularly those located in the mountainous parts   of the state,” he added. 

He said that it is unfair and dangerous too to make the students to sit  in ramshackle school buildings. “There is neither CCTV cameras nor  fire safety equipments in many of such schools, leaving the students vulnerable.  Food grains used for cooking the   midday meal should not be stale and they should not be kept in the open as is being   done in many of the schools. Cylinders, chemical solutions and other lab equipments should be used strictly under the monitoring of the technical assistants in the schools.  Besides, the students should neither be scolded nor punished publically and there should be regular  health check- ups by the health department/ rural health mission. Rash/drunk driving happening, there must be speed breakers on the roads if the schools are located along the roads.  Water tank of the schools should be cleaned once a month.  The toilets must be kept clean. Electricity fittings must be underground and high-power tension wire should never be found hanging in the vicinity of the schools.  Ramp should be provided for the specially abled students for going to toilet. An arrangement of first aids box should be kept ready  in every school,” he said.