The long-pending curse for government schools in the State devoid of the life-saving lightning conductors seems to be ending soon with the School Education and literacy Department taking a decision to equip all schools with the lightning conductors. The department has issued the circular and has asked the officers-in-charge to complete the installation work by the end of June.
“We have issued a letter to officers and have asked to complete the installation work of lightning conductors on or before June 30. The department is taking all mandatory measures to make schools a safe place. It would be ensured that the work is completed before monsoon arrival,” said, Department of School Education and literacy, Secretary, Aradhana Patnaik.
Reports from various independent organizations suggest that more than 150 deaths occur every year from across Jharkhand due to lightning. The number of lightning deaths in the state has almost doubled in the past few years.
Notably, Jharkhand High Court had also directed the State Government to install lightning conductors in every school and important government buildings including community buildings.
The most common plea which is often claimed by government school teachers for not installing lightning conductors is that in many schools the installed conductors get stolen in the absence of proper security measures. Short of funds too affect schools as most government schools are not in a position to arrange money to buy the lightning conductors. Maximum government schools in the state share the same fate.
Recently, in the meeting conducted with school headmasters, Ranchi DEO has asked them to act promptly on the issue in the prescribed time. “Considering it as one of the vital requirement for the protection of children, a meeting has been conducted with all the school headmasters to immediately act and install lightning conductors at their respective schools. The cost will be remunerated from ‘Vikash Kosh’ (Development Fund) of the schools. The deadline also have been fixed, the installation work must be completed on or before June 30,” Ranchi, DEO, Rajkumar Prasad Singh said.
“As far as security measures are considered, the school management committees have been instructed to form a group at village level to keep strict vigilance on the lightning conductors. However, irresponsibility at school management’s part must be avoided to avoid such mishaps,” added Prasad.
As per the building by-laws, every building both private and government must have lightning conductors. “The department has asked for the list of all the schools and other government cradles, where the lightning conductors were supposed to be installed last year but due the sheer negligence of the authority in charge, the disaster management has yet not received a single name and the work is lingering since long. The department is ready to provide assistance on technical aspects but we require list from various departments,” said, Officer in Disaster Management, SK Srivastava.