No govt school in Gurgaon has fire clearance certificate: RTI

A reply to an RTI revealed that not a single government school in Gurgaon has a fire clearance certificate. This indicates that not only the government schools in the district lack basic level of infrastructure but also compromise on the safety issues of their students. This also shows the negligent attitude of school administrations that have no qualms in putting the lives of the students in danger. Meanwhile, both the fire and education department are in an attempt to pass on the ball to each other’s court.

Gurgaon has around 592 government schools, including 49 higher secondary, 69 senior secondary schools, 99 middle schools and 375 primary schools. Around 1,16,000 students study in these schools. 

However, it appears that the Haryana Education Board has failed to fulfill the safety requirement, which points towards the lack of preparedness to protect the children in any case of mishap. An RTI reveals that the fire department has no details available regarding fire safety measures to be adopted by the government school buildings in Gurgaon. The RTI had sought details under the Government of Fire Act, about fire safety No Objection Certificates (NOC) issued to government school buildings in last ten years. The reply by the fire department states that no NOCs have been issued to any government school in Gurgaon. It was also noticed that most of the government schools were renovated and the buildings were re-established, despite that the safety clearance was not assured by the school authorities.

“It is shocking that all the private schools have followed these safety norms and shameful that the government schools are not concerned about their students’ safety. When all private schools have to go for fire NOC, then why not the same for government schools? Their lives are equally important,” said S K Sharma, the RTI activist.

The RTI also revealed that more than 400 FIR of fire incidents in schools were registered across Haryana, yet no action has been taken.

According to the government’s fire safety Act — once the construction of a high-rise is completed, an NOC shall be obtained. In the absence of such a certificate, the owner shall not occupy, lease or sell the building and the government may, by notification, declare that no place within the area, as may be specified, shall be used for anyone or more of the purposes, which in its opinion constitute a fire risk.