135 Ggn schools found not adhering to safety guidelines

GURUGRAM: Gurugram authorities on Friday directed action against 135 schools that failed to submit self-certificate on safety guidelines.

The action comes in the wake of a spate of crimes against students inside the school premises in Delhi-NCR.

The issue of safety of students inside school premises came to the fore after the death of a Class II student in Gurugram's Ryan International School in September this year.

Talking to media persons, Gurugram Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh said, "Last month, the Directorate of Secondary Education instructed the schools for safety compliance. The authorities also served notices to schools for self-certification, but 135 schools failed to do so. The orders were given to the police to register a case for violation of Section 144 of the CrPC and under Section 188 of the IPC."

All schools in the district were directed to submit self-certificate within 15 days after completing the norms.

However, only 223 schools have submitted their certificates so far.

Police have also been asked to write to the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in case of violation.

The management of schools were asked to submit certificates to the district administration on the basis of several criteria, the primary among which was the constitution of a school security committee, and would include of parents as representatives.

The criteria also include compulsory police verification of non-teaching staff and arrangement of separate toilets for these staff.

Moreover, special toilets with ramps must be constructed for physically challenged children, and a female attendant must be assigned in toilets for small children.

The administration also lists issuance of fire safety certificate as one of the criteria, as well as to ensure that fire safety equipment is in working condition.

The order also directs schools to install adequate number of CCTV cameras inside the school premises, as well as the school buses.

Moreover, school buses must have GPS systems and the mandatory presence of a female attendant.

On October 9, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre and the state governments to file safety guidelines for schools, while specifically keeping in mind that the children should not face any sort of danger in the school premises.

The apex court had also observed that when the safety guidelines were formed, certain mechanism must be put in place.