Dehradun: All government and private schools in Uttarakhand will prepare comprehensive disaster management plans. A strategy for the initiative was discussed at a meeting held on Friday with Education Department officials and all Chief Education Officers of the state, chaired by Secretary Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Vinod Kumar Suman.
The objective is to make schools better prepared for disasters and ensure the quick and safe evacuation of students and staff during emergencies.
Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman said the disaster management plan for each school would be prepared based on its geographical conditions and potential risks. Schools will assess possible threats such as earthquakes, landslides, floods, flash floods, cloudbursts, heavy rainfall, snowfall, avalanches, fires and other local hazards.
Based on the risk assessment, evacuation routes, safe locations and emergency response plans will be identified. A joint committee comprising officials from the Education Department and the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority will be constituted to prepare the plans.
The roles of students and staff during an emergency will also be defined in advance. Principals, teachers, non-teaching staff and, where required, students will be assigned specific responsibilities.
Emergency contact numbers for the police, fire services, health department, State and District Disaster Management Authorities, tehsils and other relevant departments will be prominently displayed in schools. Schools will also be equipped with first-aid facilities, first-aid kits and essential relief and rescue equipment.
Regular mock drills will be conducted to assess the effectiveness of the disaster management plans. Separate arrangements will be made for the safe evacuation of students with disabilities and special needs.
The safety of school buildings, classrooms, electrical systems, kitchens, gas connections, water tanks, laboratories, playgrounds and other facilities will also be assessed.
Six Special Teams to Be Formed in Schools
Under the disaster management plan, every school will constitute six specialised teams for warning and information, evacuation, first aid, fire safety, search and rescue, and assistance and psychosocial support.
These teams will facilitate an immediate and coordinated response at the school level during a disaster.
A key feature of the initiative will be student participation. Students will lead these teams, while teachers and school staff will provide the necessary guidance and support.
Students will be assigned responsibilities according to their age and capabilities, with the aim of making them more aware, self-reliant and capable of responding effectively during disasters.
