look news india
The massive fire that broke out in a coaching center in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, is not just an accident but a deliberate negligence by our poor administrative system. The black smoke rising from this fire has not only put the future of innocent students in danger, but has also blackened the face of the entire system that ensures safety and rules. Whenever such a painful incident occurs, paperwork and sham sealing proceedings begin, but the reality remains the same. As a responsible reporter and alert citizen, the time has come to not only express regret over this hollowness, but also immediately hold accountable the white-collared and corrupt officers responsible for it.
How long will this corrupt system keep playing with the lives of innocent people?
This is not the first time that such a catastrophic fire has occurred in a coaching hub. From different parts of the country to many areas of Lucknow itself, these dens of death are being operated indiscriminately in basements and narrow streets. The biggest question that arises is that when these buildings neither have adequate ventilation nor emergency exits, then how do the local administration, development authority and fire department give them the green signal? Has it become a habit of this system to trade the lives of innocent children on the basis of bribe and influence of a few rupees? This accident has made it clear that until criminal cases are registered against the inspectors and senior officials working at the ground level, these shops will not be closed.
In the name of investigation, mere whitewashing and gratification cannot be tolerated.
After an accident, it is usually seen that governments form big investigation committees, in which top IAS and IPS officers are included. This step may be administratively correct, but the public is now tired of mere promises and long drawn-out investigation reports. Often, under the guise of these investigations, the real culprits get a chance to escape and the entire blame is put on the building owner or some small employee. This time the people of Lucknow and the victims’ families are demanding direct action. The accountability should be on the one who blindly promoted this illegal construction and did not take any strict action on the complaints in time.
Now is the time for change: It is mandatory to bring coachings under the ambit of strict regulation
If we really want that no such fire incident should happen again in Lucknow or any other corner of the country in future, then a very strict and transparent law will have to be made for the entire education and coaching sector. There should be random checking of each institution and its fire safety audit report should be made available online in the public domain so that parents can check the safety standards for themselves before enrolling their children. The system will now have to wake up and understand that these centers doing business in the name of education can be reformed only by imposing strict rules. Now enough has been said, now only strict and immediate action is needed.