Du colleges comPromise with fire safety, Play with students’ lives
Many colleges, including LSR, are functioning without fire clearance certificates.
Several renowned colleges and departments of the Delhi University are functioning without obtaining a Fire Safety Clearance (FSC) certificate or a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), putting thousands of students’ lives at risk in case of a disaster.
Delhi University colleges like LSR (Lady Shri Ram College for Women), Jesus and Mary College, Saheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, Miranda House and College of Vocational Studies have been functioning without obtaining an NOC or Fire Clearance Certificate from the Delhi Fire Services, according to an RTI reply received by Mohit Gupta, a Delhibased advocate. The Sunday Guardian tried to speak to the principal of these colleges, but most of them were not aware that they required any such certificates from the Fire Department.
Dr Suman Sharma, principal of LSR, said over telephone, “I am unaware of anything as such. Please speak to my colleagues. I am in a conference outside Delhi.”
Dr Rosily, principal of Jesus and Mary, did not reply to The Sunday Guardian’s calls and text messages.
However, Anju Srivastava, principal of Hindu College, said that her college had received the Fire Safety Clearance certificate some four months ago and it is valid for the next three years.
Even Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilites has not received an NOC from the Delhi Fire Services. However, according to the RTI, the institute had applied for an NOC in May last year, and is now waiting for a clearance from DFS.
Even departments directly under the Delhi University such as the Faculty of Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Education, Computer Science, and Medical Sciences have failed to provide any information on the Fire Safety Clearance certificate of the buildings where classes are held for students. In the reply given to the RTI questions, these departments have said that the buildings are maintained by the Estate section or the Engineering Department and that they should be contacted for any information.
Mohit Gupta, who filed the RTI, said, “Fire and structural safety is never taught to the students, nor practised by schools and universities. The fire services are mute spectators.”
When The Sunday Guardian contacted Naresh Kumar, Assistant Registrar, Estate, Delhi University, he said, “The En- gineering Department is supposed to take care of all these issues and I do not know anything about it.”
However, Devesh Sinha, Dean of Colleges for Delhi University, told this newspaper, “This information is coming to me for the first time. The principal and administrations of the colleges are responsible for ensuring fire safety in their respective colleges and we cannot put students’ lives in danger. Since this issue has now been brought to my notice, I will enquire into this.”
According to DFS officials, they do not have any list of higher educational institutes that have been given Fire Safety Clearance certificates. “There is no list available with us. That is because hardly anyone has applied for the certificate. Unless one applies, we cannot do anything,” a DFS official said.
Another DFS officer added that if the DFS started evaluating fire safety norms being practised by colleges of Delhi University, most of the buildings would have to be demolished: “Delhi University colleges are very old buildings and most of them are lower than three storeys and are exempted from clearance certificates. But most colleges have been erecting structures in the last few years. These require fire safety clearances. However, the colleges do not apply for the same.” The participation of women artisans has increased at the Hunar Haat, which is being organised at the 37th India International Trade Fair (IITF) in Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. Coordinated by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Hunar Haat aims to provide a platform for handicrafts and handlooms of master artisans and craftsmen from across the country.
Hunar Haat has proved beneficial for workers like Harjeet Kaur because it allows them to connect directly with traders. Kaur, a Phulkari worker, runs a workshop in Patiala where she and her sister not only run the whole household, but also generate livelihood for 10-12 women. “This is my first time here and I am glad to be able to become part of this platform. The Trade Fair is still in its first week and is not yet open to the public. I am hoping that once the general public is allowed, sales will go up,” Kaur told this newspaper.
Reshma, a metaware manufacturer from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, said, “The Trade Fair is a huge opportunity for us because we need to reach a larger audience to be able to sell our products. Hunar Haat helps us reach a market where there is a demand for our goods.”
Inaugurating the Haat earlier this week, Minister for Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had said: “While on the one hand, the Hunar Haat has provided a platform to master artisans and craftsmen to display their rich heritage and skills, on the other, these exhibitions are providing domestic and international markets to these artisans and craftsmen.”
However, there has been a fall in the number of artisans and stalls in Hunar Haat compared to last year. Officials managing the Hunar Haat said: “This time, 133 artisans, 70 stalls, four state award winner artisans and eight national award winner artisans are participating in Hunar Haat from 20 only states. (It was more last year.) Participation is low because of the lack of space in Pragati Maidan, which is undergoing redevelopment. However, the number of women participants has increased, with 30-35 women entrepreneurs setting up stalls in Hunar Haat.”
Among various handicrafts on sale at Hunar Haat in Hall 7G&H are cane, bamboo, jute products of Assam, varieties of silk from Bhagalpur, jewellery from Rajasthan, kantha products from West Bengal; brocades from Varanasi; Lucknawi chikan work and zardozi from UP; Khurja ceramic products; blackstone pottery from the Northeast; Kalamkari from Telangana; mural paintings and bandhej from Gujarat, etc.
Displaying his work at Hunar Haat, Husen M. Hada, 52, an oil paint artist, said, “I have brought with me 14 years of my work. Some of my latest works are on display in the Hunar Haat.” The most expensive painting at Hada’s stall is for Rs 155,000, while the cheapest is priced at Rs 40,000.
Another interesting stall at Hunar Haat is of “Koshish” where Sahil, a 20-year-old boy suffering from Down Syndrome, is displaying his hand-made jute work.