The zilla parishad (ZP) has absolutely no data or inspection processes in place to confirm whether financially aided schools have fire safety measures in place or not. The ZP's education department only informs the school of the steps that are needed to make sure no untoward incident happens.
A few days ago, a fire broke out at a primary school in Mankapur. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, but it came to light that Ranu High School's midday meal kitchen did not follow the proper safety procedures, which resulted in the fire.
The education department is entrusted with disbursing financial aid to schools for salary and non-salary requirements. Grants also are disbursed for important government scheme of midday meals, which aims to ensure high attendance levels at schools.
While the education department disburses the funds for the midday meals kitchen, it undertakes absolutely no checks on the schools regarding safety of infrastructure. Officials in the education department, who did not want to be named, said there was no system to cross check safety measures put in place by schools implementing midday meals scheme.
"No one from our department goes to check the schools, nor do we ask them for fire department certificates as far as their kitchens are concerned. Many of the schools don't even have the mandatory fire fighting equipment," an education official told TOI.
There are many schools which operate from extremely congested commercial complexes. Many buildings have schools operating only on the second or third floor onwards. Such schools openly flout the mandatory requirement of having classes for standard I and II on the ground floor. "Fire exit routes are non-existent in most of these old buildings and in case of emergencies it is hard to imagine how the small kids will escape." the official added.
At Mankapur's Ranu High School, children started running helter-skelter after the fire broke out, with some children sustaining minor injuries in the process.
Education officer Someshwar Netam told TOI that the onus lies on the school to make sure that safety procedures are followed. "We regularly inform them of the need to have fire extinguishers and other requirements. But, yes, it is true that there are no checks to see if the schools are following the same. However, we provide them all the information required to ensure that no fire hazard incidents occur," said Netam.
So, while school managements, fire and education department continue to ignore fire safety rules, it is the kids who risk their lives everyday in school.
A few days ago, a fire broke out at a primary school in Mankapur. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, but it came to light that Ranu High School's midday meal kitchen did not follow the proper safety procedures, which resulted in the fire.
The education department is entrusted with disbursing financial aid to schools for salary and non-salary requirements. Grants also are disbursed for important government scheme of midday meals, which aims to ensure high attendance levels at schools.
While the education department disburses the funds for the midday meals kitchen, it undertakes absolutely no checks on the schools regarding safety of infrastructure. Officials in the education department, who did not want to be named, said there was no system to cross check safety measures put in place by schools implementing midday meals scheme.
"No one from our department goes to check the schools, nor do we ask them for fire department certificates as far as their kitchens are concerned. Many of the schools don't even have the mandatory fire fighting equipment," an education official told TOI.
There are many schools which operate from extremely congested commercial complexes. Many buildings have schools operating only on the second or third floor onwards. Such schools openly flout the mandatory requirement of having classes for standard I and II on the ground floor. "Fire exit routes are non-existent in most of these old buildings and in case of emergencies it is hard to imagine how the small kids will escape." the official added.
At Mankapur's Ranu High School, children started running helter-skelter after the fire broke out, with some children sustaining minor injuries in the process.
Education officer Someshwar Netam told TOI that the onus lies on the school to make sure that safety procedures are followed. "We regularly inform them of the need to have fire extinguishers and other requirements. But, yes, it is true that there are no checks to see if the schools are following the same. However, we provide them all the information required to ensure that no fire hazard incidents occur," said Netam.
So, while school managements, fire and education department continue to ignore fire safety rules, it is the kids who risk their lives everyday in school.
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