Lok Sabha Question No. 328 (STARRED), answered on 2015-08-12
Subject: Disaster Management Training in Schools
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: MAHEISH GIRRI

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY**

**LOK SABHA**

**STARRED QUESTION NO. 328**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2015**

**Disaster Management Training in Schools**

*328. SHRI MAHEISH GIRRI:

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

(a) whether the Government proposes to make disaster management training mandatory as part of curriculum in all schools;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the time by which it is likely to be started and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) Whether all schools in the country are adequately prepared for any kind of disasters and if so, the number of schools that have trained staff in disaster management;

(d) whether it has come to the notice of the Government that a large number of schools are not adhering to fire and other safety norms and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the details of the monitoring mechanism put in place in this regard?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)**

(a) to (e)  A statement is laid on the table of the House.

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**STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 328 ASKED BY SHRI MAHEISH GIRRI REGARDING DISASTER MANAGEMENT TRAINING IN SCHOOLS, DUE FOR ANSWER ON 12.08.2015.**

(a) & (b)	  National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has incorporated the contents related to disasters and disaster management in the NCERT’s textbooks for the classes VI to XII in the form of text and visuals.   Disaster Management has been introduced as a subject in classes VIII-X as a part of Social Sciences syllabus of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) from the academic year 2003-04 onward in a phased manner and as a part of Geography and Sociology in class XI  from the academic session 2005-06.  CBSE has brought out textbooks on the topics of disaster management for each of the classes VIII, IX, X and XI.  The Disaster Management has been made a part of Formative Assessment under School Based Assessment Scheme implemented by CBSE from 2009.

(c) to (e)   Education, being a subject in the Concurrent List of the Constitution, and the majority of schools being under the jurisdiction of the State Governments, it is for the respective State/ Union Territory Governments to ensure that their schools are adequately prepared for any kind of disasters, adhere to fire & other safety norms and have trained staff in disaster management. No such information about the State schools is maintained centrally.  So far as the schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Examination (CBSE) are concerned, they are expected to adhere to the provisions contained in the Affiliation Bye-laws, which provide that the school should scrupulously observe prescription from the Municipal authority regarding fire safety precautions in the school.  A certificate from the Fire Authorities regarding fire safety needs to be mandatorily submitted along with the application for affiliation. The schools affiliated to CBSE are required to submit a fresh certificate regarding fulfillment of fire safety norms from the municipal authority once every five years.  All Kendriya Vidyalayas, running in permanent buildings follow the safety norms.  Regular monitoring is done at the school level by Principal and also at Regional level and KVS headquarters. All the buildings of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas are designed as per the provision of prevailing Seismic Zones.  Adequate number of Fire escape stair cases and Fire Extinguishers are provided.  The training programmes for Principals and Vice-Principals for preparing them to encounter disasters are conducted from time to time.

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