Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 27: Secretary, School Education Department, Nirmal Sharma today chaired a meeting of all Chief Education Officers of Jammu Division in the conference hall of Directorate of School Education.
The meeting was convened to take stock of the damage caused to the school buildings and other infrastructure by the recent floods that wreaked havoc in the entire State.
Director School Education, Jammu H.R Pakhroo informed that the Chief Education Officers and the Zonal Education Officers of Jammu Division had already been directed to assess the damages caused to the infra structures of various schools of the division. The Secretary Education was informed about the number of schools damaged partially or fully district wise by the Chief Education Officers.
The Secretary directed the concerned officers to obtain a certificate from the PWD authorities regarding the safety of the schools before the students are allowed to take their classes in such schools. The Secretary was informed in the meeting that number of fully damaged and partially damaged schools in the entire Jammu division is 191 and 1307 respectively. An estimated loss to the tune of Rs. 64.11 crore has been caused to the Education Department on account damages to the school buildings in this division.
The Secretary was informed that all the affected schools have started their functioning again. However, she directed the concerned officers to arrange the rented accommodation immediately in place of tents which are at present used for schooling of the students. She also emphasized that in view of the approaching winter the schooling in tents may not be feasible. She emphasised that a cleanliness drive on war footing be taken in flood affected schools so that the students may not be affected by the diseases usually associated with floods.
She also directed the Chief Education Officers to furnish a detailed report about the damages caused including Kitchen Sheds, utensils and food grains connected with MDM Scheme. The books to the students affected by the floods should be got arranged immediately for their uninterrupted studies. The matter regarding the financial assistance to the affected infrastructure of the schools is also being taken up with the Ministry of Human Resource Development.
She exhorted upon all the officers to prepare a detailed report about the damage caused to the schools for onward submission to the administration department and also stressed upon them to ensure smooth functioning of the flood affected schools.
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