New Delhi: Delhi govt has proposed setting up first-aid medical facilities in all 1,086 govt schools under the Directorate of Education at an estimated annual cost of Rs 48.9 crore.Under the proposal, each school will have a trained health worker to provide immediate first aid and basic care to students during school hours.The proposed medical rooms will provide services such as wound dressing, administration of oral rehydration solution (ORS) and temporary rest under trained supervision. No diagnostic services will be conducted nor will prescription medicines be administered on the school premises.According to the proposal, each school will have a trained health worker, such as an auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) or a multipurpose health worker, to attend to immediate medical needs and provide adolescent health support.The facilities will also offer a safe and private space to girls who may have menstrual health needs.The initiative will be implemented in phases, beginning with schools that already have separate rooms available for medical facilities. Schools without dedicated spaces will be covered subsequently through alternative rooms or porta cabins.Education minister Ashish Sood said: “Every child in our govt schools deserves a safe and caring environment. When a student falls ill or gets hurt during school hours, parents and teachers should have the peace of mind knowing that immediate first-aid and proper care are readily available right inside the school campus.”According to govt, many schools lack spaces or basic facilities to attend to students experiencing minor injuries, sudden illnesses, fatigue, dizziness or other health-related discomfort during school hours.This often results in avoidable delays in providing immediate assistance and causes anxiety among students, teachers and parents. The proposal seeks to address these gaps by ensuring basic medical support is available within school premises.The proposal also distinguishes between basic medical assistance and clinical treatment, limiting the role of school-based health workers to first-response care.By incorporating adolescent health support alongside emergency assistance, the initiative seeks to address routine health-related needs that students may otherwise have to manage without dedicated support during school hours.Govt has described the initiative as a low-cost, high-impact student welfare measure aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aimed at creating safer, more inclusive and supportive learning environments.
