Question : Fire Safety in Schools

(a) whether it is a fact that the safety of children has been compromised in all manners,
including lack of valid fire safety certificates by the schools and colleges in the country
and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(b) whether the Government propose to de-recognise the schools which are not having fire
safety certificates in future and if so, the details thereof and the steps being taken in this
regard, State-wise;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor; and
(d) the steps likely to be taken by the Government to ensure all schools and colleges have
fire safety certificates within a stipulated time to ensure safety of children in future?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL ''NISHANK'')
(a) & (d) : No, Sir. The Right to Education incorporates the provisions of safe schools.
The Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource
Development has issued detailed guidelines to all States and UTs regarding safety and
security of children in October, 2014 and the same had been reiterated in 2017
consequent upon formulation of school safety guidelines by the National Disaster
Management Authority (NDMA). The guidelines have suggested preventive institutional
mechanisms and procedures that should be put in place in the schooling system along
with the relief and redressal strategies in case of any untoward incidents in the schools. It
covers various aspects related to the safety and security of school children including
infrastructure which includes physical structures of school
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building, electrical and fire safety mechanism, safety audits in schools including fire
safety and clearance by fire authority etc.
These guidelines envisage that fire prevention and fire safety measures should be
part of initial school design and also require regular maintenance and testing. The
University Grants Commission has also framed guidelines on safety of students, on and
off the campuses of Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs). Under these guidelines, the
HEIs should install a fire safety system under which mechanisms for the detection of a
fire, the warning resulting from a fire and standard operating procedures for control of the
fire are evolved. Students and staff should be trained in the effective operation of fire
fighting devices. Mock drills for fire situation should also be undertaken at least once in a
semester.
(b) & (c): The schools affiliated to CBSE are required to follow the guidelines relating to
safety of children in schools, including the following:-
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(i) The guidelines issued by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in Writ Petition
(Civil) No. 483 of 2004 in the matter of Avinash Mehrotra (Petitioner) Versus
Union of India & Others (Respondents);
(ii) The guidelines on School Safety Policy, 2016 issued by the NDMA which is
statutory in nature;
(iii) Manual on Safety and security of children in schools developed by NCPCR &
(iv) National Building Code-2005, as amended from time to time.
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The Department of School Education & Literacy has also requested all States and
UTs to sensitize the entire administrative and monitoring machinery towards effective
implementation of the guidelines on safety and security of school children; and
institutionalizing and ensuring a safe, secure and vibrant environment in schools for
children.
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