SDMC asks schools to fix infra glitches soon

To ensure the safety of students in schools the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has asked the school authorities to fix infrastructure glitches before it reopens on January 19. The schools were to reopen on January 16, but due to the harsh weather the authorities extended the winter break.SDMC authorities issued the notice to the schools on Tuesday. "The school premises should ensure that there is no open or uncovered sewerage tank, water tanks; manholes and pits around the school have to be covered. There should be no broken windows, or window panes. All the naked wires in and around the school should be concealed at the earliest," said P K Goel, Commissioner, SDMC.The circular was issued after students, Divyansh Kakrora of Ryan International School and Ankit Kumar of SDMC school had died falling in the water storage tank of their respective school, last year."The task force and committee have been instructed to submit their report to the concerned Deputy Director of Education, Assistant Director of Education to certify the proper working condition of the infrastructure. This will help in providing an assurance of safety of the student," Goel said in a statement.Additional Commissioner and Director Education, Meeta Singh said that there has been standing instructions in respect of conducting mock drills and bring awareness on the Disaster Management modus operandi in the schools.The schools have also been directed not to allow the students to go out of the schools during working hours, except with prior approval of the principal.

"The safety and security of the students be ensured during ongoing repair or maintenance in the school. The principals must ensure that no student is left in school after the working hours. A gate register should be maintained for the visitors. It should also be ensured that on the gates, duty at the time of recess and dispersal of students be assigned to teachers."Principals must ensure that the food is safe and edible before distribution of mid-day meal. The students should be sensitised about the road safety and personal hygiene. They should not have access to the open roofs of the schools," the statement said.