Thursday, 01 August 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
In response to the recent tragic death of three IAS aspirants due to flooding in a Delhi coaching institute, the Uttarakhand government formed a six member committee in each district for safety audit of all coaching centres. This decision was taken as per the order of the Urban Development minister Prem Chand Agarwal on Wednesday. These committees will have to submit their reports to the State administration within two weeks.
Agarwal said that this directive aims to identify and rectify any irregularities that might pose a threat to students’ safety. The recent incident in Delhi underscored the critical need for stringent safety standards in educational facilities. Agarwal emphasised the necessity of ensuring such a calamity does not recur in Uttarakhand. He stated that officials must not hesitate to take strict action against operators of coaching centres failing to meet safety standards. The additional secretary of the State administration Atar Singh issued an order regarding the same stating that a five-member committee has been formed in all districts to conduct thorough inspections and to enforce appropriate measures. The committee will evaluate coaching centres based on six key safety criteria. This comprehensive approach is designed to ensure that all coaching centres adhere to necessary safety regulations, providing a secure environment for students, the order stated.
In Dehradun, numerous coaching centres operate out of small rooms, houses and other buildings not designed with adequate safety measures. Areas like Karnpur and East Canal Road have become hubs for coaching centres preparing students for UPSC examinations, banking exams and other subjects including Science and English. These centres attract hundreds of youths from mountainous regions but their locations in narrow, congested areas pose significant risks. Access for ambulances or fire brigade vehicles is often impossible in such centres. Most of these coaching centres do not adhere to safety standards, posing a serious risk to the lives of hundreds of students in case of emergencies. Similar situation prevails in many other cities and towns of the State.
