Patna: Amid a two-week-long inspection drive at coaching centres in Patna, district magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh on Sunday ordered immediate sealing of the centres operating in violation of the Bihar Coaching Institutes (Control and Regulation) Act, 2010, especially those being illegally run in basements. The directions came in the wake of drowning of three civil services aspirants, including a Bihar native, at a waterlogged coaching institute in Delhi recently and subsequent protests in the state by students and parents.
Singh, who launched the two-week-long inspection drive in Patna district last Tuesday, said so far no coaching centre was found to be running from basement.
“During a meeting, the coaching centre association told the district administration that no such coaching classes are being run in any basement. However, the officials have been asked to verify it and if anyone is found violating this norm, the concerned coaching centre will be sealed immediately,” the DM said, adding the safety of the students is the top priority of the administration.
So far, a total of 300 coaching centres have been inspected by a six-member team, led by subdivisional magistrates, in their respective subdivisions of Patna Sadar, Danapur, Barh, Paliganj, Patna City and Masaurhi. Apart from the six teams, a district-level team carried out inspection at 14 coaching centres.
The inspection is being done on several parameters, ranging from registration, security, building bylaws, fire exit, entry and exit points and provisions for emergency situations, to basic facilities.
On Sunday, inspections were held in Patna City and Paliganj subdivisions. Patna City subdivisional magistrate (SDM) Gunjan Singh said at least 22 coaching centres were inspected at Bahadurpur and Khajekalan areas. “We are covering even the small coaching centres. Most of the coaching classes in Khajekalan are for classes X to XII students,” she said.
Paliganj SDM Amanpreet Singh directed some coaching operators to ensure all basic amenities, including provision for drinking water, toilet and lighting, at their centres within five days, asking them to rectify the emergency plan, including separate entry/exit points, fire safety and building bylaws, within a week. “Verification of the coaching centres will be a continuous process,” he added.
Patna DM Singh told this newspaper that crowding and one entry-and-exit gate are the two major problems at most coaching centres. “According to the provision, there should be one square metre space in classroom for each student. Besides, the entry and exit gates should be barrier-free, but many coaching centres intentionally blocked one gate. One purpose is to control the students and allow only those enrolled in the classroom. Secondly, to create more place in the classroom by keeping extra chairs near the locked door,” he said.
The DM directed the coaching centres to rectify all the problems, saying the number of batches can be increased, if needed, as per the rules.
Meanwhile, the district education office has received 1,100 applications for renewal and fresh registrations. At least 3,123 coaching centres are registered in Patna as per the last survey.
Singh said a district-level committee meeting has been scheduled next week for the disposal of the applications. “The administration will launch a portal for the coaching centres to apply online for their registration renewal and new registrations. They will also be able to track the process and different stages, if the application is pending, rejected (with reasons) and approved,” he said, adding they are also planning to ask the coaching centres to create their own web pages.