Several Shimla schools skip DC’s Safety meeting, draw official’s ire
Several Shimla schools skip DC’s Safety meeting, draw official’s ire
Shimla, Aug 29,
Several government and private schools in Shimla failed to send their principals to a meeting convened by Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap on Friday to review the safety and security arrangements for schoolchildren.
The meeting, held at Bachat Bhawan, was attended by school representatives and senior officials to discuss measures for preventing security threats, conducting regular inspections and ensuring prompt response in case of emergencies.
A total of 28 government and private schools had been invited to the meeting. However, several principals remained absent, while some schools deputed other teachers in their place. Kashyap expressed displeasure over the absence, stressing that school managements must demonstrate serious involvement in matters directly concerning the safety of children.
The Deputy Commissioner directed every school management to submit a daily safety certificate to the district police, confirming that the school premises had been inspected and found secure. He said security checks must be conducted both before the school opens and after it closes.
He further directed that if any rumour or information regarding a security threat is received from a school in future, the police should also verify whether the school had issued its safety certificate for that particular day.
Kashyap also called for regular monitoring of security guards deployed at school premises and strict implementation of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) prepared by the district administration for school safety and handling security threats.
The schools were directed to ensure proper boundary walls or fencing, controlled entry and exit points, visitor registers, security guards and CCTV surveillance at vulnerable locations. The administration also stressed verification of school staff, security personnel, school bus drivers, construction workers and other outsiders working or entering school premises.
The meeting also reviewed verification of school vehicles and drivers, power backup for CCTV systems, the possibility of drone surveillance in vulnerable areas, monitoring of construction work and verification of labourers engaged on school campuses.
The DC directed schools to strengthen regular safety inspections and monthly security audits, besides appointing a nodal officer responsible for safety-related matters in every school. School safety committees were also asked to remain active.
Additional Superintendent of Police Gaurav Jeet Singh advised school authorities to immediately inform the police and administration about any suspicious person, vehicle or object without putting themselves at risk. He specifically directed schools to alert the police immediately if any drone is spotted flying over a school campus.
He also stressed that security personnel must check every person entering school premises and take immediate action in case of suspicious activity.
Kashyap said no potential security threat should be taken lightly and that preventive and necessary action must be initiated promptly whenever credible information is received. “The safety of children is the top priority and no negligence in this regard will be tolerated,” he said.
Among the schools invited to the meeting were Loreto Convent Tara Hall, Convent of Jesus and Mary Navbahar, Sacred Heart Convent Dhalli, JCB Senior Secondary School New Shimla, St Edward’s School, Bishop Cotton School, DAV Lakkar Bazar, DAV New Shimla, Auckland House School Boys, Auckland House School Girls, Shimla Public School Khalini, Dayanand Public School The Mall, Maya Public School and several other government and private institutions.
Additional District Magistrate (Law and Order) Pankaj Sharma, Additional Superintendent of Police Gaurav Jeet Singh, Deputy Director Higher Education Lekhraj Bhardwaj and representatives of various schools were also present.
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