Journalism of Courage
A policy issued by the University Grants Commission in April 2015 was circulated to all the SPPU affiliated colleges on May 5, 2015 which had several to-do lists for colleges before taking such excursions.
Chief among the rules to follow are:
A qualified doctor with adequate supply of medicines if entourage is above 50
students
At least two trained teachers
Circulating itinerary amongst parents and asking for their consent and suggestions well in advance especially regarding safety
Insuring students against various emergencies/risks
A training session on risk zones, hazardous locations and climate for students
Medical fitness test of students before the trip
Under fire from all sides for their alleged negligence which led to the tragedy, college authorities have one more challenge on their hands — an internal inquiry by the Pune University. “We are going to demand a report on the incident from the college and a detailed reply on whether each of these safety precautions was taken or not. After this, we will take further decision on the matter,” said Wasudeo Gade, vice-chancellor, SPPU.
