The Mathura administration has adopted a strict stance regarding the safety of children in schools.
In compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders, nodal officers will now be deployed in all government and private schools in Mathura to prevent the entry of stray dogs and maintain cleanliness on the premises.
The District Basic Education Officer of Mathura, Ekta Kirti, has issued strict instructions to the Block Education Officers in this regard.
This order has been issued in pursuance of the order passed in the writ petition “City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay the Price” filed in the Supreme Court. The court had expressed serious concern regarding the management of stray dogs and the safety of children from them.
According to the issued instructions, all educational institutions falling within the municipal area and its extended limits must immediately nominate a nodal officer. The name and mobile number of the nodal officer must be prominently displayed at the main entrance of the school. The main task of these officers will be to keep the school premises free from stray dogs and ensure cleanliness.
The order not only mandates the appointment of a nodal officer but also requires institutions to repair and secure their boundary walls and gates. The objective is to ensure that stray animals do not enter the areas where children play or study under any circumstances.
The BSA has instructed that a list of all nominated nodal officers be prepared and provided to the Municipal Commissioner, Mathura-Vrindavan Municipal Corporation, so that coordination can be established at the municipal level for the management of stray dogs. A copy of this list will also be sent to the District Basic Education Officer’s office.
This step has brought relief to thousands of parents of schoolgoing children, as reports of attacks by stray dogs had become a cause for concern in recent times.