Make safety norms mandatory: L-G

Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Wednesday came down hard on the Delhi government to ensure safety for children in schools after the recent murder of a seven-year-old student in Gurugram's Ryan International School, and a sexual assault of a minor i another school.

The L-G asked Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to make safety guidelines mandatory for schools in the Capital and stated that these guidelines must be binding for the granting of recognition of schools under the Delhi School Education Act and Rules. Sisodia, who is also the Delhi education minister, was told to "urgently formulate and enforce guidelines to ensure safety and security of children in schools".

Verification of the antecedents of security guards, support staff and employees, employment of adequate number of security guards preferably from ex-servicemen, authorised private security agencies registered under the Private Security Agencies Regulation Act, security audit of schools, installation of CCTV cameras at suitable points, proper illumination of dark spots and training modules, among others must be a part of the mandatory safety guidelines, said Baijal.

"The security of our children cannot be compromised and has to be an essential condition to allow the running of schools in Delhi," said Baijal.

Baijal had earlier asked Delhi Police to initiate action to brief and sensitise field level police officials to visit schools and advise them to implement security measures in the interest of students. Besides, he LG he had asked Delhi Police to suggest safety guidelines that can be implemented by schools.

The LG also suggested that the security measures listed by the Police along with measures suggested by other stakeholders including Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) be considered for inclusion.