The decision applies to all government, semi-government and private schools in the state. (representative image)
In a significant decision, the presence of two uniformed police personnel has been made mandatory for any tour or picnic of school students in Gujarat to ensure the safety of the children. The decision was conveyed by Director General of Police (DGP) Vikas Sahay in an official release Friday.
As per the release, the decision has been taken in the wake of suggestions made in this regard by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the DGP-IGP Conference, 2024.
“The decision has been taken with an objective of ensuring safety of students and to establish harmonious relations between police and students,” the release stated.
The decision applies to all government, semi-government and private schools in the state.
For this purpose, principals of schools concerned will have to contact their local police stations. If female students are part of the tour/picnic, one of the two police personnel would have to be a woman.
DGP Sahay has instructed the Principal Secretary, Primary and Secondary Education, to instruct principals of all the schools to implement the decision with immediate effect.
The decision comes over a year after the 2024 Harni boat tragedy that killed 14 people, including 12 students and two teachers, during a school picnic in Vadodara.