Lok Sabha Question No. 4285 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-12
Subject: Death of Students in Tribal Residential Schools
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: BHEEMRAO BASWANTHRAO PATIL, SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV, RANGASWAMY DHRUVANARAYANA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS) LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4285 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2016

## DEATH OF STUDENTS IN TRIBAL RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS

4285. SHRI BHEEMRAO B. PATIL:

SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV: SHRI R. DHUVA NARAYANA:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a large number of deaths of tribals studying in residential schools have been reported in the country during the last three years and the current year;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor, State/UT wise;
- (c) whether  any  inquiry  has  been  conducted  in  this  regard  and  if  so  the  details  and outcome thereof along with follow up action taken thereon;
- (d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to ensure nutritional security, health, hygiene and provide safe drinking water and toilets in these schools; and
- (e) where the vacancy on various posts in these residential schools have increased during the  said  period  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the Government to fill these vacancies at the earliest?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI JASWANTSINH BHABHOR)

- (a) & (b) There  have  been  press  reports  of  such  incidents  in  schools  in  Maharashtra, Odisha,  Gujarat  and  Andhra  Pradesh.    As  per  the  newspaper  reports  there  are  different reasons  for  this  like  lack  of  health  services  and  basic  amenities,  suicide,  blood  cancer, jaundice,  brain  TB,  rabies,  snake  bites,  malaria,  cerebral  malaria,  meningitis,  typhoid  and scorpion  bites,  train  accident,  attack  by  wasps,  aspiration  of  food,  tractor  accident,  normal death, death at night in sleep, severe headache, heavy intra-abdominal bleeding due to rupture of spleen due to blunt trauma, electric shock and falling down.
- (c) Administration / running of schools is the responsibility of concerned State Government  /  UT  Administration,  and  inquiry  and  follow  up  action  taken,  if  any,  is undertaken by them.

(d) Maintenance of the residential schools, and the regulation of their use, are done by the State Government / implementing agencies. Ministry of Tribal Affairs has issued advisories to  States  for  a  series  of  measures:  residential  schools  (200-300  students  capacity)  in  block headquarters for quality education and physical safety; 100% screening of children for Sickle Cell  Anamia/Trait;  construction  of  Girls  toilets  to  check  girl  drop  out,  physical  safety, sanitation issues; promotion of Kitchen garden and Sports; Traditional Food (minor millet) in school meals; habit of hygiene and sanitation; engagement of trained lady health workers as Warden / Assistant Wardens in girls' hostels.

As per the extant guidelines of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs), there is a provision of healthy food, clean and hygienic surroundings and toilets etc. for the inmates of EMRSs. The EMRS guidelines suggest the following essential components in the layout of the school: well ventilated dormitories, assured / reliable water supply, courtyard / verandah for  washing  and  drying  clothes,  rainwater  harvesting,  reliable  sewage  system,  open-able  / cleanable nets on doors and windows to keep out mosquitoes / insects, dining / kitchen, area for  plantation of nutritional fruit trees, garden and small shed, toilets for workers / visitors and sewage treatment plant etc.

Government  has  undertaken  various  interventions  for  nutritional  security,  health, hygiene  and  safe  drinking  water  which  include,  inter  alia,  Integrated  Child  Development Services  (ICDS)  of  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development,  National  Rural  Health Mission  (NRHM)  of  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare,  Mid  Day  Meals  Scheme  of Ministry of Human Resource Development, Drinking Water & Total Sanitation Campaign of Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation.

(e) Administration  /  running  of  schools  including  issues  of  vacancies  /  recruitment  to posts in these residential schools, is the responsibility of concerned State Government / UT Administration.  Details  of  vacant  posts  /  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  concerned  State Government are not maintained at central level.

EMRS guidelines stipulate that the norms and standards for a school class VI to class VIII in respect of the number of teachers to be appointed, as provided in the Schedule to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 shall be strictly followed.

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