EM directs speedy restoration of damaged schools and colleges in disaster hit areas

Shimla July 17
· Minister to visit disaster affected area soon

Education Minister Rohit Thakur today chaired a meeting to review the status of schools and colleges damaged due to the recent disaster in Mandi district. He expressed serious concern over the massive damage caused to educational institutions and directed the officials to take immediate measures to restore and repair the affected schools and colleges so as ensure that the studies of students continue without any interruption. He said that he would personally visit the disaster affected areas in Mandi soon.

The Minister said that as many as 219 schools which have suffered damages in disaster hit areas of Mandi district have been made functional. He said that efforts were being made to shift the few schools which have developed huge cracks in the nearest vacant government buildings, Mahila Mandals and community halls.

Rohit Thakur instructed the officers to accelerate repair and restoration works on a war footing so that student’s education is not hampered. He also directed them to explore more suitable vacant accommodations to ensure that students have easy access to their temporary schools without having to travel long distances. He stressed the physical monitoring of restoration works by concerned departments should be carried out regularly to ensure quality and timely completion.

The Education Minister further urged for the immediate release of Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) funds from the Centre so that it could be utilized for reconstruction of educational institutions in disaster ravaged areas. He asked the officers to give top priority to those schools that have sustained over 75 percent damage.

Rohit Thakur said that many schools and colleges were severely damaged due to faulty site selections with some institutions constructed close to rivers and khuds. He stressed that henceforth responsibility must be fixed on Deputy Directors during site selection and the schools must be constructed at safe places, away from rivers and rivulets to ensure the safety of the students and the staff.