Health Secretary to launch pan-India Fire Safety Week on 4 May
Synopsis
India's Health Ministry is rolling out a pan-India Fire Safety Week from 4–10 May, led by Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava. With mock drills, pledges, and awareness drives planned across all states and UTs, the initiative signals a shift toward institutionalising fire safety in healthcare — a sector long overdue for systemic reform.
Key Takeaways
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava will launch pan-India 'Fire Safety Week' on 4 May 2025 in New Delhi .
The observance runs from 4 May to 10 May , covering all states and Union Territories.
Activities include mock drills , awareness campaigns, and capacity-building initiatives for healthcare personnel.
A formal pledge on 'Fire Safety in Health Facilities' will be administered at the inaugural event.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare also released RBSK 2.0 Guidelines , expanding India's child health screening programme to include non-communicable diseases and mental health conditions .
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava will on Monday, 4 May launch a pan-India 'Fire Safety Week' in collaboration with all states, Union Territories (UTs), and Central Ministries, aimed at raising awareness on fire hazard prevention in healthcare settings across India. The announcement was made by an official in New Delhi on Sunday.
What Fire Safety Week Covers
The observance, scheduled from 4 May to 10 May, will kick off a series of awareness and preparedness activities to be conducted nationwide. As part of the inaugural event, Secretary (Health) Punya Salila Srivastava will administer a pledge on 'Fire Safety in Health Facilities', reaffirming the commitment of all stakeholders towards ensuring strict adherence to fire safety norms.
The pledge is designed to strengthen preparedness and foster a culture of safety within healthcare institutions — a sector that has faced repeated scrutiny over fire safety lapses in recent years.
Activities Planned Across States and UTs
During the week-long observance, states and UTs are expected to undertake a range of on-ground activities, including awareness campaigns, mock drills, and capacity-building initiatives. Dissemination of fire safety protocols will also be a key component, aimed at sensitising healthcare personnel and administrators on fire prevention, emergency response, and evacuation procedures.
According to the official statement, the initiative underscores the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's continued commitment to safeguarding patients, healthcare workers, and critical infrastructure by promoting robust fire safety mechanisms across all levels of the healthcare delivery system.
RBSK 2.0 Guidelines Also Released
Separately, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recently released the updated Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) 2.0 Guidelines at the National Summit on Good Practices and Innovations in Public Healthcare Service Delivery. The revised guidelines mark a significant advancement in India's flagship child health screening programme, which has been in implementation for over a decade.
The updated framework reinforces and broadens the established 4Ds approach — covering Defects at Birth, Diseases, Deficiencies, and Developmental Delays — while incorporating new-age health challenges including non-communicable diseases, mental health conditions, and behavioural concerns. This expansion reflects the evolving health burden among children in India, where lifestyle-linked and psychological conditions are increasingly being identified at younger ages.
Why This Initiative Matters
Fire safety in healthcare facilities has remained a persistent concern in India, with several high-profile incidents at hospitals and nursing homes resulting in casualties. A nationwide, Ministry-led observance signals an attempt to institutionalise safety culture rather than respond reactively to tragedies. With states and UTs actively involved, the initiative has the potential for broader compliance if followed up with enforcement mechanisms beyond the week-long campaign.
The Health Ministry is expected to share outcomes and compliance data from states following the conclusion of Fire Safety Week on 10 May.
Point of View
But India's healthcare fire safety problem is structural — not informational. Repeated tragedies at hospitals and nursing homes have followed a familiar cycle: incident, outcry, circular, silence. The real question is whether this initiative is backed by enforceable compliance timelines and independent audits, or whether it ends with the pledge ceremony. The simultaneous release of RBSK 2.0 Guidelines suggests the Ministry is in a reform mood — but momentum in public health policy has a short half-life without accountability mechanisms.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is India's Fire Safety Week and when does it take place?
Fire Safety Week is a pan-India observance running from 4 May to 10 May 2025, launched by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It aims to raise awareness on fire hazard prevention in healthcare facilities through mock drills, awareness campaigns, and capacity-building activities across all states and UTs.
Who is launching Fire Safety Week in India?
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava will officially launch the initiative on 4 May 2025. She will also administer a pledge on 'Fire Safety in Health Facilities' at the inaugural event.
What activities are planned during Fire Safety Week?
States and UTs will conduct mock drills, awareness campaigns, and capacity-building sessions for healthcare personnel and administrators. Dissemination of fire safety protocols covering prevention, emergency response, and evacuation procedures is also planned.
What are the RBSK 2.0 Guidelines released by the Health Ministry?
The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) 2.0 Guidelines update India's flagship child health screening programme, expanding its scope beyond the original 4Ds framework to include non-communicable diseases, mental health conditions, and behavioural concerns in children.
Why is fire safety in healthcare facilities a concern in India?
India has seen several high-profile fire incidents at hospitals and nursing homes resulting in casualties, raising concerns about systemic safety lapses. The Health Ministry's Fire Safety Week aims to institutionalise a culture of preparedness and strict adherence to safety norms across healthcare institutions.
