Schools need disaster lessons

Disaster management, it seems, is not in Delhi’s schools’ priority list. Neelam Pandey and Shaswati Das report.

Disaster management, it seems, is not in Delhi’s schools’ priority list.

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If any disaster strikes the capital, hundreds of major schools would find themselves caught on the wrong foot due to the alleged lack of disaster management plans, putting the lives of thousands of students and teachers at risk.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority’s (DDMA) — which has been conducting mock drills, carrying out awareness campaigns etc., to ensure the city is prepared for any eventuality — has repeatedly asking schools to submit a foolproof plan, only to be ignored.

The Delhi government has now issued show-cause notices to major schools, including Modern School, Barakhamba Road, Ahlcon International School, Amity International School, Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan, St. Thomas School, Mandir Marg, among others, warning of action in case of further delay.

While it is mandatory for every school to prepare a plan that chalks out an evacuation and emergency plan in case of any major eventuality such as fire, earthquake, accident etc., the schools are yet to furnish details.

The government has also ordered schools to appoint a teacher for the disaster management cell. The teacher will undergo disaster management training.

“We have been asking them to submit their plan but they have not done so yet. We have again asked them to prepare and furnish a plan soon, otherwise necessary action will be initiated against them,” said Dharam Pal, DDMA secretary.

Officials said in the absence of any details, they are unable to integrate the schools’ individual plans with the city’s plans.

Schools said they are in the process of drafting and submitting a fool-proof plan.

“Forget disaster management, some schools don’t even have medicines for students. In private schools, despite a court order, there is no doctor or nurse to tend to children in case of an accident or ailment,” said Ashok Aggarwal, member, All India Parents’ Association.

Grill Session

‘Schools must start caring, it is a matter of children’s safety’

Kiran Walia education minister, Delhi

Delhi schools do not take disaster management very seriously. What should be done?
This is a very sensitive matter. Schools must start caring because it is very important to know what to do in case of an emergency. An earthquake or a similar disaster can happen anywhere. They should properly chalk out a plan, locate exit gates and must comply with all the instruction issued by DDMA and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Despite a mishap, some schools have not paid heed to the repeated summons by the DDMA. Will any action be taken?
We will definitely issue guidelines to schools. It is a matter of children’s safety and the teachers and the principals themselves will be at risk. We will ask schools to comply with DDMA’s recommendations. For all the new schools that we are making, I will ensure that there is a sound plan in place.

Some city schools are not even aware that they have to submit such a plan. Why the information gap?

Both NDMA and DDMA have issued very clear-cut guidelines to city schools regarding this matter and it is now the schools’ responsibility to adhere to these guidelines and respond to these agencies.