What Measures Are Being Taken for School and Building Safety in Rajasthan?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Formation of permanent safety committees in Rajasthan.
- Committees focus on government schools and public structures.
- All repairs must be completed before June 15.
- Monthly reviews ensure progress and safety.
- Proactive measures against structural vulnerabilities.
Jaipur, July 26 (NationPress) In a decisive response to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma's directives, the government of Rajasthan has established permanent committees aimed at conducting thorough safety reviews and ensuring timely repairs for government schools, hostels, colleges, medical facilities, public structures, roads, and culverts.
These committees are mandated to complete all repair work on unsafe infrastructure by June 15 each year, thereby preventing accidents during the monsoon season. Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant has issued official notifications regarding the formation of these committees.
This initiative was prompted by the unfortunate roof collapse incident that occurred in Piplodi, located in the Jhalawar district. Following this tragedy, Chief Minister Sharma called for an urgent high-level meeting on Friday.
As a result of the discussions held during this meeting, a permanent state-level committee has been created to assess safety and execute repairs for government buildings.
This committee will be led by the Additional Chief Secretary of the Public Works Department.
Members will include Additional Chief Secretaries or Joint Secretary-level delegates from Higher and Technical Education, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, along with Principal Secretaries from Energy, Medical and Health, Urban Development and Housing, Education, Autonomous Governance, Agriculture, and a representative from the Finance Department.
The state-level committee's responsibilities include overseeing timely safety evaluations of government institutions, colleges, hostels, offices, roads, and bridges.
They will guide the identification and demolition of unsafe or dilapidated structures, assess repair needs, and ensure the allocation of both financial and technical resources.
Additionally, the committee will review progress on a monthly basis and guarantee that all critical repairs are finalized prior to the onset of the monsoon season, thus minimizing risks to life and property.
Besides the state-level committee, district-level permanent committees have been established, chaired by the District Collector.
These committees comprise the Chief Executive Officer of the District Council, Superintending Engineers from the Public Works Department and Electricity Distribution Corporation, the Chief Medical and Health Officer, the District Education Officer, and other officials appointed by the Collector. They will work in coordination with various departments to conduct safety audits of buildings, roads, bridges, and culverts, especially during the monsoon.
They are authorized to proactively address threats such as electrical hazards, waterlogging, damaged infrastructure, and unsafe structures. Additionally, they have the power to declare buildings unsafe, ensure their demolition, and issue timely directives to avert accidents.
Through this multi-layered approach, the Rajasthan government seeks to implement a robust and responsive safety framework throughout the state, safeguarding students, staff, and citizens by addressing structural vulnerabilities before disasters occur.