Lok Sabha Question No. 2420 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-31
Subject: Risky School Buildings
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: VINOD CHAVDA, DEVUSINH JESINGBHAI CHAUHAN, MOHANBHAI KALYANJIBHAI KUNDARIYA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.2420 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2017

## Risky School Buildings

2420. SHRI VINOD LAKHAMASHI CHAVDA:

SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN:

SHRI KUNDARIYA MOHAN BHAI KALYANJI BHAI:

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

- (a) whether the Government has formed any law for the children who are taking education in risky school buildings in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the guidelines for the school buildings; and
- (c) the details of the punishment prescribed for the responsible functionaries, if the building is not as per the Government norms?

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

(a) to (c): No Madam, Education falls under entry 25 of the concurrent list of 7 th Schedule  of  the  Constitution  of  India.  Most  of  the  schools  in  the  country  are affiliated  to  various  Education  Boards  set  up  by  respective  State  Governments. Ministry of Human Resource Development has set up two Boards i.e. Central Board of  Secondary Education (CBSE) and National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). The State Government and affiliating boards for schools have the responsibility to ensure  that  schools  provide  a  safe  and  child  friendly  environment.    This  Ministry had written on 27 th July,  2004 to all States and Union Territories (UT's) directing that school buildings should be free from inflammable and toxic materials and there should  be  provision  for  adequate  emergency  exits  and  adequate  supply  of  water and sand for fire fighting purposes.  Further, this Ministry's guidelines issued on 9 th October, 2014 state that school buildings should be resistant to earthquakes, fire, safe from floods and other calamities. Further  Rule  8.5  of  Affiliation  Bye  Laws  of  Central  Board  of  Secondary

Education (CBSE) prescribes that 'the School should scrupulously observe prescription from the Municipal Authority/District Collectorate/Transport Department regarding drinking water, fire safety and transport precautions in the school.  A certificate from the Municipal/Fire/Transport Authority regarding sanitary conditions, water/fire/transport safety should be submitted along with the application.'  Before grant of Affiliation, the school has to submit above certificates duly attested by Competent Authorities. Further,  the  Hon'ble  High  Court  vide  order  dated  15.09.2016  has  given following directions. i. That all the schools in Delhi including Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi  Municipal  Corporation  (NDMC),  Government  schools,  Government  aided schools shall carry out periodical inspections of the school buildings and premises and submit a quarterly report to the office of Directorate of Education, Caretaking Branch, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD). ii. Directorate of Education to constitute a Special Task Force, Zone-wise, who will visit the schools under their respective Zones on a monthly basis and submit their report before Directorate of Education, Caretaking Branch, GNCTD. iii.  Executive  Engineers  of  the  Municipal  Corporations  shall  also  visit  the  schools under  their  area  of  control  on  a  monthly  basis  and  in  cases  of  any  defects  in relation  to  their  field  are  found,  shall  take  steps  to  ensure  that  the  defects  are rectified. The CBSE shall  take  necessary  action  on  receipt  of  such  recommendations from 'Directorate of Education, Delhi. 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.    Under  Sarva  Shiksha  Abhiyan  Scheme, School  Management  Committees  (SMCs)  can  avail  of  training  on  all  aspects  of safety and security of children in schools. This Ministry had written on 28 July, 2014 to all States and Union Territories (UT's)  directing  need  to  ensure  a  set  of  standard  safety  measure  by  Institution while undertaking study tours. Punishment  against  the  responsible  functionaries  would  be  in  accordance

with prescribed law or rules of the respective State Government or the Boards, if the building is not as per the Government norms.

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