Lok Sabha Question No. 3893 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-16
Subject: Dilapidated Condition in Government Schools in Maharashtra
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Rajabhau Parag Prakash Waje

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3893 ANSWERED ON - 16/03/2026

## Dilapidated Condition in Government Schools in Maharashtra

3893.  Shri Rajabhau Parag Prakash Waje:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  numerous  Government  school  buildings  in Maharashtra,  such  as  the  79-year-old  ZP  High  School  at  Sakoli  in  Bhandara  are  in dangerously dilapidated condition, risking students' lives and if so, the details of measures taken by the Government in this regard; (b)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  slabs  and  parts  of  structures  have  recently  collapsed  at Government  ZP  School  in  Shingadgaon,  Solapur,  although  fortunately  no  major  injury occurred, raising serious safety concerns, if so, the details thereof along with the measures taken by the Government in this regard; (c) the number of unsafe schools identified in Maharashtra, funds sanctioned for their repair and the time-bound plan for safety audits and urgent reconstruction; (d)  the  details  of  special  scheme  or  dedicated  assistance  has  been  provided  by  Union Government to State for immediate repair and safety audits; and (e) the time by which all unsafe Government school buildings in Maharashtra are likely to be
- made structurally sound to ensure student safety?

## A N S W E R

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

- (a): State of Maharashtra has informed that In ZP High School Sakoli in Bhandara district 16 classrooms are available out of which 2 classrooms are in dilapidated condition. In year 2025-26, District Annual Scheme (Jilha Warshik Yojana) has approved amount of Rs. 25.00 lakh for special repair works of ZP high school at Sakoli in Bhandara. Also, 2 classrooms are approved with financial allocation of Rs.24.00 lakhs from Special Fund.
- (b): State  of  Maharashtra  has  informed  that  Zilla  Parishad  Primary  Marathi  School, Shingadgaon, Taluka South Solapur is a Primary (Class 1 to 5) school. The enrolment of this school is 148 and 4 teachers are working. 7 Classrooms are available in this school, out of which 5 classrooms are available in good condition. Structural Audit of these classrooms has been  conducted,  and  2  classrooms  were  found  dilapidated  and  these  classrooms  are  no

longer  used.  State  has  intimated  that  a  part  of  front  verandh  slab  has  collapsed  after  the school hours; no harm occurred due to this. Permission has been granted vide letter dated 29/07/2025 from the office of Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Parishad Solapur for demolishing the dilapidated classrooms. (c) to (e): The state has informed that as per UDISE (Plus) data 2025-26, a total of 22691 classrooms  are  found  dilapidated  in  10568  schools.  Guidelines  have  been  issued  by  the State vide letter dated 29/10/2024 and multiple reminders to the concerned local authorities about school safety and no use of dilapidated school building. Constructions of classrooms and repairs are carried out under Samagra Shiksha and other State Government's Schemes. The Ministry of Education has issued a latest directive on 26th July 2025 to all States and  Union  Territories  to  take  urgent  steps  to  ensure  the  student  safety  and  well-being.  It 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.  The directives are available on the link: https://dsel.education.gov.in/sites/default/files/update/ss2607.pdf Further, the Ministry of Education on 7th 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,  unless  certified  as  safe.  The directives may be accessed at https://dsel.education.gov.in/sites/default/files/update/ss07008.pdf 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 from time to time by Ministry of Education and States/UTs are expected to implement them, they may incorporate additions or modify them, according to their specific requirements. Samagra Shiksha Scheme supports creation of infrastructure and basic facilities for students in Government Schools. The requirement of infrastructural facilities in schools are worked  out  every  year  by  the  respective  State/Union  Territory  including  rural  areas depending on their  need and priority  and  reflected  in  their  Annual  Work  Plan  and  Budget (AWP&B).  These  plans  are  then  appraised  and  approved/estimated  by  Project  Approval Board (PAB) in consultation with the States and Union Territories as per the programmatic and  financial  norms  of  the  scheme,  physical  and  financial  progress  of  works  sanctioned earlier and availability of budgetary resources.

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