PRESCHOOLERS, PARENTS, PROPRIETORS SUFFER IN FIRE SAFETY FARCE

Half-baked instructions, conflicting rules and paradoxical paperwork, coupled with a lack of communication, have led to loss of academic term for children, reputational damage for institutions and financial burdens due to overpriced fire safety equipment

Last month, the Ahmedabad Corporation Municipal (AMC) suddenly began sealing preschools without any prior notice, sometimes even in the absence of their owners.

Several preschool owners reported feeling treated like criminals, with media scrutiny and angry parents worsening their problems even when they were not responsible for any deaths.

This action, starting June 7, came in the wake of the TRP Game Zone tragedy in Rajkot, where over 30 persons, including children, lost their lives in a fire.

Preschool owners and their associations claim this is a travesty and a violation of natural justice that has cost them both reputational damage and financial losses due to contradictory rules, lack of communication between departments, "nonsensical" one-sizefits-all regulations and a lack of clarity on measurements, mixed-use buildings and their BU permissions.

Firdaus F Lalkaka, owner of Thumbelina Nursery and KG School, wrote to Ashwini Kumar, Principal Secretary of Urban Development and Urban Housing Development, detailing the confusion and harassment faced by preschool owners. He stated, "There is no clarity on the fire safety equipment required for preschools not covered by the third schedule. Owners, under pressure, installed far more than necessary, feeling cheated."

Money spent is money lost

This action occurred just before the academic year began in mid-June, causing distress for both preschool owners and parents about the loss of the term. Owners were simply told to "install fire safety equipment" without any official documentation outlining the requirements.