Lok Sabha Question No. 3690 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Security Audit of Schools
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: OM BIRLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3690 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  MARCH, 2018

## Security Audit of Schools

## 3690.  SHRI OM BIRLA:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Government has formulated school safety and security manual which is likely to provide right to the parents and other associated individuals to demand Security Audit of the schools and if so, the details along with the salient features of the manual;
- (b) whether the intended time within such manual is likely to be implemented throughout the country;
- (c) whether  the  Government  intends  on  putting  the  manual  before  public  for  their  suggestions  and opinions and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the norms as to the establishment of CCTV, staff police verification, etc. if implemented are likely to increase the burden on the school management;
- (e) if  so,  whether  the  Government  also  intends  to  provide  any  aid  to  the  school  authorities  in implementing new guidelines; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a) to (d) The State and Union Territory Governments have the direct responsibility to ensure safety and  security  of  students  in  schools  under  their  territorial  control. The  Ministry  of  Human  Resource Development  has issued guidelines in October, 2014 to all State/UT Governments for ensuring safety and security of school children, including preventive mechanisms and procedures required to be put in place in the schooling system alongwith  relief and redressal strategies in case of  any incident.

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has also suggested authorities at different levels such as SMC, School Principal, School Management, Education Department and Boards, to conduct safety audits in schools. NCPCR has developed a Manual on safety and security of children in school setting.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued school safety policy guidelines which were circulated to all States and UTs in September, 2017 for compliance. The guidelines provide for conducting quarterly safety audits by the School Management Committee (SMC) in schools including fire safety and food safety. The guidelines are in public domain and hosted on www.mhrd.gov.in.

Further, CBSE has issued a circular on 12.09.2017 directing the schools affiliated to the Board to take  measures  such  as  psychometric  evaluation  of  teaching  and  non-teaching  staff,  safety  audit  of premises, CCTV monitoring, character antecedents verification, visitor management, training of staff and setting  up  Internal  Complaints  Committee  on  sexual  harassment  and  Committees  under  Protection  of Children  from  Sexual  Offence  (POCSO)  Act,  2012  etc.  to  ensure  safety  of  children.   For  corporal punishment,  the  Board  has  incorporated  a  provision  in  the  Affiliation  Bye-Laws  of  the  Board  for preventing  cruelty  towards  children.  Under  Rule  44.1  (d)  of  Affiliation  Bye-Laws  of  the  Board,  the school Managing Committee has been empowered to place an employee under suspension if 'he/she is charged with cruelty with any student or any employee of the school'. Rule 8.5 of Affiliation Bye-Laws provides that the school should scrupulously observe prescription from the Municipal Authority/ District Collector/  Transport  Department  regarding  drinking  water,  fire  safety  and  transport  precautions  in  the school. The Board has also issued comprehensive guidelines for safe and effective use of internet and digital technologies including CCTV cameras in schools and school buses.

Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan has issued a circular on 22.12.2014 to all KVs to take necessary precautions including installation of CCTVs etc. It is mandatory for all KVs to implement School Safety policy 2016 prepared by NDMA.

The  detailed  guidelines  for  ensuring  safety  and  security  of  students  in  Jawahar  Navodya Vidyalayas have been issued from time to time including the guidelines for installation of CCTV in all JNVs.  JNVs are fully residential, co-educational senior secondary schools with separate hostels for boys &  girls.  Female  teachers  working  as  Housemistress  and  Associate  housemistresses  look  after  the  girl students.  Matrons are also appointed. Female employee is appointed on part time basis for cleaning girls hostels. School  level  complaint  committees  and  cluster  level  complaint  committees  are  functional.  At headquarter level moral turpitude cases are dealt by summary trial committees.

(e) and (f) The  Schedule  to  the  Right  of  Children  to  Free  and  Compulsory  Education  (RTE)  Act, 2009  provides  for  norms  and  standard  for  a  school,  which  inter  alia  stipulate  for  all-weather  school building. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is the designated scheme to support States and UTs in meeting the objective of RTE Act, 2009. Under SSA scheme, School Management Committees (SMCs) can avail of training on all aspects of safety and security of children in schools.  The guidelines on Food Safety and Hygiene  for  School  Level  Kitchen  under  the  Mid  Day  Meal  scheme  stress  on  the  safety  aspects  of procurement, storage and preparation of food items.  Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) also  provide  for  safe  and  secured  school  campus  for  secondary  education.  Under  SSA  and  RMSA schemes  the  Central  Government  provides  financial  assistance  to  States  and  UTs  for  elementary  and secondary education including school infrastructure.

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