CH NEWS
BENGALURU
A Cabinet sub-committee has proposed easing fire and building safety norms for schools established before 2018, with safeguards for children.
The Special Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by MLC Puttanna has recommended several relaxations in rules governing recognition and renewal (RR) of private aided and unaided schools established before 2018.
In its interim report submitted to School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa on Wednesday, the committee proposed exempting buildings within 15 metres, including basements, from requirements such as sprinklers, 5,000/10,000-litre overhead tanks or sumps, 450 LPM systems and alternative power supply.
However, it stressed that fire extinguishers, sand buckets and other essential safety equipment must be installed compulsorily to protect children. The Department of School Education and Literacy has been asked to ensure that all government and private aided and unaided educational institutions established before 2018 have fire extinguishers.
The committee also recommended that schools operating for several years or established on land donated by ancestors should not be asked to produce fresh land-transfer documents during RR renewal. Certificates issued by registered engineers should be accepted for building safety compliance.
It proposed retaining the earlier ₹30,000 fixed deposit requirement instead of insisting on a fresh ₹3 lakh deposit or e-bank guarantee. The committee also sought immediate release of RTE fees.
Separate online portals for renewal of old schools and approval of new institutions were recommended. Schools and colleges shifted for unavoidable reasons should be allowed permission under their existing RR norms.
The panel also proposed reducing the minimum student requirement for RR to 20.