Lok Sabha Question No. 3944 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-27
Subject: Disaster Management in Schools
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: S.P. MUDDAHANUMEGOWDA, B.V. NAYAK

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3944 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 TH  MARCH, 2017

## Disaster Management in Schools

## 3944.     SHRI S.P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA: SHRI B.V. NAIK:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Government has set up an emergency response mechanism like National  Disaster  Response  Force  for  schools  across  the  country  to  deal  with  emergency situations and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is also a fact that a set of guidelines have been issued to all concerned to deal with the state of emergency and safety precautions and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether all  the  schools  have  been  recommended  to  have  CCTV installed  and  in  working order and if so, the percentage of schools with CCTV facilities in the country; and
- (d) the time by when these CCTVs are likely to be installed in all the schools?

## ANSWER

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

(a) and (b): The State Governments and affiliating boards for schools have the responsibility to ensure that schools provide a safe and child friendly environment.  Ministry of Human Resource Development had written on 27 th July, 2004 to all States and Union Territories (UTs) 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.  The Ministry has requested the State Governments to issue appropriate guidelines on Standard Safety measures in schools on 28 th July, 2014.  Further, this Ministry has issued guidelines on 9 th October, 2014 to all States and UTs for the effective implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory  Education  (RTE)  Act,  2009,  regarding  safety  and  security  of  children  in  schools. These guidelines  have  elucidated  the  steps  to  be  taken  for  choosing  the  physical  location  of  the schools and ensure that the buildings are resistant to earthquakes, fire, safe from floods and other calamities. The Ministry has also circulated guidelines of National Disaster Management for school safety to all States and UTs on 27 th February, 2017.

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.  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.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has formulated and circulated detailed guidelines  to  its  affiliated  schools  for  safety  of  students  in  schools  and  prevention  of  accidents relating to school children.  Rule 8.5 of the Affiliation Bye laws 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.  A  fresh  certificate regarding fulfilment of these requirements should be obtained and submitted to the Board every five years.

The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) - 2005 brought out by the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) emphasizes on connecting child's experiences with school  knowledge  and  prepare  children  for  independence  in  thought  and  action  as  well  as responding  to  new  situations  in  a  flexible  and  creative  manner.  The  NCF  -  2005  emphasizes  on providing space for the awareness and management of natural and man generated disaster in school curriculum. The new syllabi and textbooks developed by the NCERT in consonance with the NCF 2005 provide adequate space to concerns like natural calamities/Disaster Management in integrated manner. Besides, the NCERT has also developed a series of small booklets to deal with different kinds of disasters which occur due to specific geographical location and environmental pollution. These booklets will help schools to provide disaster management training to not only students but also to teachers.

(c) and (d): There is no such proposal.

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