The Rajasthan government has instructed officials to promptly repair all dilapidated yet salvageable school structures in the state before the arrival of the monsoon. This directive was emphasized during a meeting led by Rajesh Yadav, Additional Chief Secretary (School Education), to evaluate crucial schemes, activities, and issues within the Education Department. Urgency was underscored by referencing a tragic incident in Jhalawar last year, where a school building collapse resulted in the death of seven children and injuries to over 25 others, raising significant concerns about the safety of government school infrastructure.
To prevent such incidents from recurring, the Additional Chief Secretary urged for swift action to identify and fix vulnerable buildings, along with the formulation and execution of a comprehensive plan for constructing new school facilities in areas with inadequate or unsafe infrastructure. Rajesh Yadav also oversaw the progress of various flagship initiatives during the meeting, providing essential directives for their efficient implementation. These initiatives encompassed schemes like Samagra Shiksha, the PM-SHRI Scheme, Free Uniform DBT, ICT Labs, Tablet Distribution, and others aimed at enhancing educational standards and infrastructure safety.
Furthermore, the meeting involved a review of critical institutions such as the Rajasthan State Textbook Board and the Rajasthan State Open School, in addition to assessing the implementation of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. The Language and Library Departments were also evaluated for their contributions to enhancing educational outcomes. Stressing the government’s dedication to bolstering school education, Rajesh Yadav called for improved inter-departmental coordination and timely execution of all programs to ensure students’ access to quality education and secure infrastructure. State Project Director and Commissioner Dr. Rashmi Sharma, Joint Secretary Mahendra Kumar Khinchi, Additional State Project Director-II Ashok Kumar Meena, and other senior officials were present at the meeting.
