Is the Safety of School Children the Top Priority in Rajasthan?

Jaipur, July 26 (NationPress) Following the heartbreaking roof collapse at a government school in Piplodi village, located in Rajasthan's Jhalawar district, the Secretary of the School Education Department, Krishna Kunal, has communicated a firm stance, asserting that the protection of schoolchildren is the department's highest priority.

He made it clear that any lapse in duty by teachers or officials will face severe disciplinary measures.

During a video conference review meeting on Saturday, Kunal mandated that officials compile a physical report on the state of every classroom in their assigned government schools, irrespective of their condition, by July 30, adhering to the specified format.

He also called for the creation of a geo-tagging application in collaboration with the Department of Information Technology (DoIT) for enhanced monitoring and record management. Stressing the need for student safety outside school premises, Kunal urged officials to guarantee the safety of children commuting to and from school.

In light of the monsoon season, he requested heightened vigilance and immediate reporting of any waterlogging or hazardous situations along school routes.

Furthermore, he instructed that all schools be equipped with first aid facilities and that staff undergo basic first aid training. As part of the government's response to this tragedy, Kunal announced a financial aid of Rs 10 lakh for each family who lost a child in the incident.

He mentioned that classrooms impacted by the incident would be dedicated in memory of the children.

Additionally, he declared that no celebratory events or departmental gatherings would take place in the School Education Department's offices for the next 7 to 8 days as a sign of respect and mourning.

The Secretary also mandated that disaster management training be compulsory in all schools. He directed Jhalawar district officials to ensure that the injured receive proper medical care and to take prompt action during such emergencies rather than being mired in procedural delays. In case of heavy rainfall, officials were instructed to suspend school activities without delay.

A proposal to set up a dedicated Disaster Management Cell within the department was also discussed, as suggested by Additional State Project Director Suresh Kumar Bunkar.

During the meeting, officials were informed about the Garima Helpline, aimed at reporting safety issues concerning students and female staff. Schools and offices will display information about the helpline to promote timely responses when necessary. Director of Secondary and Elementary Education, Sitaram Jat, reiterated that the deadline for submitting physical school infrastructure reports is July 30.

He expressed sorrow over the incident and emphasized that prior directives to identify unsafe buildings had been issued multiple times.

He called upon all officials to act with seriousness and empathy to ensure the safety of children. State Project Director and Commissioner of Samagra Shiksha, Anupama Jorwal, urged for improved coordination among departments to avert such incidents in the future. The meeting also reviewed ongoing initiatives such as Praveshotsav, free textbook distribution, and Hariyalo Rajasthan, with instructions for their timely execution.

A moment of silence was observed in memory of the children who lost their lives. Earlier in the day, Secretary Krishna Kunal visited the hospital to meet with the injured children and their families.

He instructed the hospital administration to ensure the best possible care and advised education officials to maintain close collaboration with medical personnel. He also visited the site of the incident to evaluate the situation firsthand and discussed potential causes and preventive measures with villagers and district authorities.