The continuously rising temperature and threat of heatwave in Uttar Pradesh has increased the government's concern. Since the last week of April, the mercury has crossed 44 degrees Celsius in many districts, due to which children, elderly and weaker sections are expected to be affected the most. In such a situation, on the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Basic and Secondary Education Department has taken a big step towards making all the schools of the state not only centers of education but also the primary center of safety of children.

The government has adopted a strategy to integrate heatwave prevention, health protection and nutrition by implementing special security arrangements in schools. In particular, the Mid Day Meal (MDM) system has been made a strong foundation by directly linking it to the health of children.

Emphasis on safety along with education in schools

In this period of scorching heat, schools are being developed not only as a place of education but also as a place that provides a safe environment for children. Time-bound activities, health precautions and guidelines to prevent heatwave have been implemented by the Education Department in all schools.

Teachers have been instructed to keep an eye on the physical condition of children and take any heat-related problem seriously. Special attention is being paid to ensuring availability of adequate drinking water, shady places and first aid in the school premises.

MDM becomes a strong foundation for children's safety

Mid-day meal scheme has been made an important part of this entire strategy. The government believes that during the scorching heat, not only food, but also nutrition of children and supply of essential elements to the body is very important.

For this reason, MDM is being strengthened at the grassroots level by linking it with health security. The goal is that children can avoid problems like malnutrition, weakness and dehydration. The government does not want to limit this scheme to just food distribution, but is making it a medium for overall health security of children.

Availability of ORS, glucose and iron tablets ensured

The Health Department has been instructed to ensure adequate availability of ORS, glucose, electrolytes, iron tablets and first aid kits at every level. Pink iron pills will be distributed to students of classes 1 to 5, while blue iron pills have been arranged for students of classes 6 to 8. Priority is being given to supply of these medicines to schools and health centres. Besides, teachers have also been given the responsibility to help the children in taking the doses of medicines on time, so that health protection is not limited to papers only.

Government on alert even before data based strategy

In view of the possibility of temperature reaching more than 44 degrees Celsius in most of the districts of the state this year and the duration of heatwave increasing, the government has already started extensive preparations. As per the guidelines issued by the Disaster Management Authority, an analytical table of temperature fluctuations over the past several years has been provided to the teachers, so that they can better understand the seriousness of the situation. Regular review, monitoring and administrative vigilance have been increased in all the districts of the state, so that there is no negligence at any level and immediate relief can be provided when needed.

Important measures to prevent heatwave

The government has also shared some important precautions for parents, teachers and children-

• Avoid going out in bright sunlight between 12 noon and 3 pm
• Keep taking adequate amount of water, ORS and other fluids
• wear light, loose and cotton clothes
• Cover your head with a cap, towel or cloth
• Avoid sports or excessive physical activity in the sun
• If you feel dizzy, weak, vomiting or uneasy, take rest immediately and contact a doctor
• Ensure provision of shady places and clean drinking water for children in schools.

Clear message from the government regarding the safety of children

This step of the Yogi government clearly indicates that heat and heatwave are now being seen not just as a seasonal problem but as a public health challenge. Especially keeping children safe is the top priority of the government. At a time when temperatures are constantly breaking records, such preparation in schools is not only necessary, but can also become a strong administrative model for the future. The biggest objective of this entire initiative is to ensure the safety of children along with their education.