Parliament Question: Dilapidated and Unsafe Classrooms of Government Schools

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.185 ANSWERED ON - 20/07/2026 Dilapidated and Unsafe Classrooms of Government Schools †185. Shri Omprakash Bhupalsinh Alias Pavan Rajenimbalkar: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has the latest data regarding the number of dilapidated and unsafe classrooms in Government and Zilla Parishad schools located in the Dharashiv Lok Sabha Parliamentary Constituency, if so, the details thereof; (b) the scheme being implemented by the Central Government for demolition of such dilapidated and unsafe classrooms and construction of new classrooms in lieu of it and the financial allocation/funds provided thereunder; (c) whether the Government proposes to accord priority approval for construction of new classrooms in such schools in the said Constituency and provide the necessary financial assistance therefor; and (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? A N S W E R MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) to (d): Education is in the Concurrent list of the Constitution and majority of the schools are under the administrative control of respective State Government and UT Administration. Guidelines issued from time to time by Ministry of Education and States/UTs are expected to implement them, they may incorporate additions or modify them, according to their specific requirements. Samagra Shiksha Scheme supports creation of infrastructure and basic facilities for students in Government Schools including construction of classrooms and repairs. The requirement of infrastructural facilities in schools are worked out every year by the respective State/Union Territory depending on their need and priority and reflected in their Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B). These plans are then appraised and approved by Project Approval Board (PAB) in consultation with the States and Union Territories as per the programmatic and financial norms of the scheme, physical andfinancial progress of works sanctioned earlier and availability of budgetary resources. Further, the Samagra Shiksha scheme is implemented in convergence with various Ministries/ developmental agencies and schemes of the Centre and State Governments. State has further informed that after structures are certified unsafe for use and recommended for demolition, construction of new classrooms and the repair of unsafe school buildings are being undertaken under Samagra Shiksha as well as various State Government schemes. The State of Maharashtra has informed that classrooms in 287 Government and Zilla Parishad Schools in Dharashiv Lok Sabha Parliamentary Constituency which includes Dharashiv District, Ausa and Nilanga block of Latur District and Barshi block of Solapur District are dilapidated. Construction of 203 classrooms with a total financial allocation of Rs. 2219.11 lakh has been sanctioned in the FY: 2025-26 and FY: 2026-27 for Dharashiv constituency under Samagra Shiksha and various other State Government’s schemes. Further, the Government of Maharashtra, through its Circular dated 16 April 2025, has directed that infrastructure gaps in Government schools be addressed by converging resources from State Government schemes, Central Government schemes, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. The Ministry of Education has issued a directive on 26th July 2025 to all States and Union Territories to take urgent steps to ensure the student safety and well-being. It refers to the "Guidelines on School Safety and Security" (2021) and the National Disaster Management Guidelines on School Safety (NDMA, 2016) issued on 27.02.2017. The directives are available on the link: https://dsel.education.gov.in/ sites/default/files/update/ss2607.pdf Further, the Ministry of Education on 7th August 2025, has directed all States/UTs to ensure the structural safety of school buildings and urgent identification of unsafe and dilapidated school buildings through safety audits, followed by demolition, if required or repair of structurally unsafe structures, and prohibition of use, unless certified as safe. The directives may be accessed at https://dsel.education.gov.in/sites/default/files /update/ss07008.pdf *****