New Delhi: The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) remarked some of the schools run by Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) as “horror houses” after it conducted a surprise inspection and found them without adequate security and sanitation facilities, reported news agency PTI. 


The panel claimed that it found syringes, drugs, cigarette cases, gutka wrappers and even broken liquor bottles in one of the school premises that the DCW inspected on May 20 and 21. 


The inspection came days after the panel initiated an inquiry into the condition of safety and security of students in schools following report of sexual assault in an MCD-run school in Bhajanpura earlier this month.






Among the schools that were inspected include — Bhai Mandeep Nagpal Nigam Vidhyalaya, Aruna Nagar (North), Nigam Pratibha Sah Shiksha Vidhyalaya, Kewal Park (North), Purvi Dilli Nagar Nigam Pratibha Vidhyalaya, Mustafabad (East) and Dakshini Dilli Nagar Nigam Prathmik Sah Bal Balika Vidhyalaya, Sanjay Colony, Bhati Mines (South) are the schools that were inspected.


The DCW said its teams found the gates of all these four schools open and there were no security guards


Following recovery of syringes, drugs and broken liquor bottles among other substances at the premises of the Kewal Park school the DCW said it has "recommended filing an FIR in the matter urgently".


Most of the school buildings were severely damaged and unsafe for children, it added. 


"Parts of the ceiling and walls have fallen several times in the school at Aruna Nagar and there have been several narrow escapes. In Bhati Mines, the children were forced to sit in a tin shade in scorching heat," it observed.


The DCW highlighted that the schools did not have a single operational CCTV camera and that the toilets were "extremely dirty".


"Also, there were several toilet doors that were broken or could not be locked from inside, which raises serious concerns regarding the safety and privacy of children. In the school at Bhati Mines, the girl toilets were locked, and the boys and girls were forced to defecate in the open, as there was no water connection in the toilets," it alleged.


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"These schools are horror houses where students and teachers are extremely unsafe. How can a school exist without a security guard and CCTV? In today's world, MCD is running schools where girls are forced to defecate in the open! So much so for the Total Sanitation Campaign! The situation is extremely alarming and urgent steps need to be taken to safeguard the future of the children," DCW chief Swati Maliwal said.


The DCW has issued a notice to MCD commissioner in this connection and sought a detailed action report by May 30.