Lok Sabha Question No. 4011 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-18
Subject: Safety Audits of School and Public Facilities Buildings
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Dhairyasheel Sambhajirao Mane, Shri Sudheer Gupta, Shri Manickam Tagore B, Shri Manish Jaiswal, Shri Suresh Kumar Shetkar, Shri Chavan Ravindra Vasantrao, Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4011

ANSWERED ON 18/08/2025

## Safety Audits of School and Public Facilities Buildings

4011. Shri Dhairyasheel Sambhajirao Mane:

Shri Chavan Ravindra Vasantrao:

Shri Sudheer Gupta:

Shri Manish Jaiswal:

Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth:

Shri Suresh Kumar Shetkar:

Shri Manickam Tagore B:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has directed all States/UTs to conduct safety audits of school and public facilities  buildings  used  by  children  in  accordance  with  national  safety  codes  and  disaster management guidelines, if so, the details thereof and response of the State Governments/UTs thereto; (b)  the  details  of  key  parameters  likely  to  be  assessed,  outline  the  standard  safety  protocols  and emergency preparedness measures during these audits;
- (c)  whether  any  timeline  or  schedule  set  for  conducting  comprehensive  safety  audits  along  with completion of these audits and submission of reports to the Government and if so, the details thereof; (d) the details of safeguards put in place to ensure that the safety audits are conducted independently, transparently and without any bias or administrative interference;
- (e) the details of mechanism put in place to monitor compliance and ensure remedial action in case of shortcomings found during the said audits;
- (f) whether the Government made any provisions for financial assistance or budgetary allocations to enable under-resourced schools to implement safety measures and carry out audits as per norms and if so, the details thereof; and
- (g) whether the Government also proposes to provide training and capacity-building programmes to staff and students for emergency preparedness in all the schools and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (g): Education is in the Concurrent list of the Constitution and majority of the schools are under the administrative control of respective State Government and UT Administration. Guidelines issued by Ministry of Education are advisory in nature and States/UTs are expected to implement them  and  they  may  incorporate  additions/modifications  to  them,  according  to  their  specific requirements.

The Ministry of Education has issued a latest directive on 26 th July 2025 to all States and Union Territories to take urgent steps to ensure the student safety and well-being. This refers to the "Guidelines  on  School  Safety  and  Security"  (2021)  and  the  National  Disaster  Management Guidelines  on  School  Safety  (NDMA,  2016)  issued  on  27.02.2017  and  includes  safety  audits  of schools and child-related facilities  as  per  national  safety  codes,  training  for  staff  and  students  in emergency preparedness, and the provision of psychosocial support through counselling and peer networks. The Ministry has urged Education Departments, School Boards, and affiliated authorities to  act  without  delay  in  implementing  these  measures.  The  directives  are  available  on  the  link: https://dsel.education.gov.in/sites/default/files/update/ss2607.pdf

Further, the Ministry of Education on 7 th August 2025, has directed all States/UTs to ensure the structural safety of school buildings and urgent identification of unsafe and dilapidated school buildings through safety audits, followed by demolition, if required or repair of structurally unsafe structures, and prohibition of use, until certified safe. Authorities are advised to arrange temporary schooling where needed, gainfully use the space created due to demolition, ensure regular monitoring and reporting, and ensure safety/ structural fitness compliance certification for any re-occupancy. States/ UTs are instructed to strictly enforce the above measures and avoid any further injuries and loss  of  life  due  to  preventable  infrastructure  failures.  The  directives  are  available  on  the  link: https://dsel.education.gov.in/sites/default/files/update/ss07008.pdf

Earlier, Government of India has issued various guidelines for ensuring safety and security of children in schools, as under: -

1. Guidelines on School Safety and Security by Department of School Education and Literacy issued on 01.10.2021. These guidelines are uploaded on the website of DoSEL at https://dsel.education.gov.in/sites/default/files/2021-10/guidelines\_sss.pdf
2. Guidelines on School Safety Policy by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA, 2016) issued on 27.02.2017. These guidelines are available at the link: https://dsel.education.gov.in/sites/default/files/rte/Guidelines\_feb.pdf
3. NCPCR examined and compiled different guidelines and developed a comprehensive manual titled-  'Manual on Safety and Security of Children in Schools' dated 26.02.2018. The manual is available  at  the  link:  https://ncpcr.gov.in/uploads/165604923562b54e531fe87\_manual-on-safetyand-security-of-children-in-schools-sep-2021-2465-kb.pdf

These guidelines interalia contain provisions for ensuring the safety and security of children in schools and fixing the accountability of various stakeholders and different departments.

The guidelines aim to foster collaboration among stakeholders for a safe school environment, raise awareness of existing safety policies, clarify roles in implementation, assign accountability for child safety during school activities and transportation, and enforce a strict 'Zero Tolerance Policy' against negligence.

The NDMA guidelines provide for monitoring of implementation of the National Disaster Management Guidelines on School  Safety  Policy  on  designated  activities  like  conducting  safety audits,  annual  mock  drills,  installation  of  fire-extinguishers,  training  of  students  and  teachers  in school  safety  and  disaster  preparedness,  adherence  to  safety  norms  with  respect  to  storage  of inflammable and toxic material and grant of recognition certificate only to those schools that comply with structural safety norms specifically pertain to fire safety.

Under  Samagra  Shiksha  scheme,  budgetary  provisions  for  the  strengthening  of  school infrastructure, including financial support to address gaps found in safety audits, are available. Funds can be allocated for repairs, retrofitting, classroom, drinking water, electricity, toilets for girls, boys and CWSN, boundary walls and other civil works by including it in annual proposals by State/ UT governments. Supplementary resources are available through convergence with other departments/ Ministries including department of drinking water and sanitation, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Rural Development (MGNREGA), Ministry of Home Affairs (NDRF), etc.

*****