News buildings under school vision but security is missing

The NMMC has redeveloped municipal school buildings across the city under its “School Vision” but absence of security might result in draining public funds in the near future. The concern surfaced after this week’s Standing Committee meet.

This week the NMMC administration presented a proposal of constructing a security wall around NMMC School in Sector 4, Nerul – the reason for making the wall at the cost of Rs. 21 lacs 4 Thousand 4 Hundred and 467 of your taxes? Well, the administration says the grills around the school have been stolen. Despite the school having security guards, the grills were stolen exposing just how secure all municipal schools in the city are. The issue is more concerning as NMMC has redeveloped scores of municipal schools across the city and if there are such security lapses then there could be a spate of robberies in the newly built schools as well, which will continue to drain public taxes. Worst still is the fact that there is no one taking accountability of such security lapses. NMMC Standing Committee Chairman Sandeep Naik says that this reflects on the loopholes in administrative functioning and calls for the need to get efficient officers on board.
It isn’t just about thefts but in the past there also have been allegations of drug peddlers misusing municipal school premises after dark. While there is a need for the administration to pull up its socks and take the issue of security of schools, accountability is still elusive. This means public funds being drained in the name of such proposals will continue to haunt the civic treasury.