Beach trips allowed, with riders

STATE REVOKES MURUD TRAGEDY ORDER BANNING TRIPS TO SEASIDE, HILLS

Higher education department issues fresh order with 34-point directives on how to take precautions during college excursions

The Murud tragedy had prompted in its wake an order by the state higher education department, banning all trips to beaches and the hills. On Thursday, the department revoked that ban and issued fresh directives that allow such excursions, but with a 34-point rider on the necessary precautions that must be taken by schools and colleges while arranging such tours.

Speaking to Mirror about the changes, deputy director of education Ramchandra Jadhav, said, "After we issued the earlier order, we had received some suggestions. Keeping them in mind, we decided to revise our order. According to the new directives, schools are permitted to arrange trips to beaches and hillsides, but will have to take certain precautionary measures to make sure a Murud-like tragedy does not occur in future."

First, second and third year students of BCS from Abeda Inamdar College were on a trip to Murud beach on February 1 when 14 of them drowned. The very next day, the higher education department issued an order, banning educational institutes from taking students to beaches, hills and forts. The department had issued an advisory of 27 points to all the educational institutes in the state.

The earlier order had received a lot of flak, with some experts arguing that students get to learn about beaches, forts and hills through such trips. So, banning these excursions will not be a good idea. Soon after, officials of the higher education department held a meeting with principals, teachers, educationists and other officials at Modern High School in the Shivajinagar area on Thursday. After the meeting, the department decided to withdraw the order and issued a fresh one with some changes.

With the new order, the higher education department has advised educational institutes that before taking the students to beaches and forts, a team of teachers should visit the place, study it and inform students about the possible dangers in advance. The order also mentions that primary training of first-aid and disaster management should also be provided to the students. "If girls are part of any trip, a woman teacher must accompany them and, if possible, a parent representative should be with the girls during the trips as well. The schools should also avoid night travel," Jadhav told Mirror.

After the Murud drownings, some parents had alleged that their children did not get timely medical aid. Taking cognisance of their complaints, the education department issued directives stating that the local administration of the destination where the trip will be arranged should be informed in advance. Along with that, the school or college authorities should have contact details of the local doctors to tide over any emergency. The parents of the wards should also be given a proper plan of the trip beforehand.