Delhi sets up 20-member panel to address student housing, safety after Satya Niketan tragedy

Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on Thursday welcomed Lieutenant Governor T.S. Sandhu’s decision to set up a committee, under the former’s chairmanship, on student accommodation and safety in the backdrop of the recent PG building’s collapse in Satya Niketan.

The high-powered committee, headed by Sood, has been tasked with assessing the hostel gap in the national capital and exploring new alternatives for providing safe accommodation to students, especially those who come to the city from other states.

The 20-member Committee includes the Delhi Chief Secretary, Police Commissioner, MCD Commissioner, DDA Vice-Chairperson, Chief Fire Officer, Delhi University Vice-Chancellor and VCs of other universities and government officials.

In a post on X, Sood welcomed the constitution of the Committee and said, “Ensuring safe, affordable and adequate accommodation for Delhi’s students is a key priority. I welcome the constitution of a High-Powered Committee on Student Accommodation & Safety by the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor Shri @SandhuTaranjitS Ji.”

“The Committee will assess the hostel gap, explore new accommodation through universities and government agencies, identify suitable government properties, and work towards safe, affordable and well-regulated student housing across Delhi. Together, we will build a stronger support system for students pursuing higher education in Delhi,” said Sood.

Following the tragic building collapse in South Delhi's Satya Niketan in which seven people lost their lives, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has formally initiated the process of setting up a dedicated State Disaster Emergency Relief Force (SDERF) for the National Capital to strengthen the city's preparedness and response during major emergencies.

Delhi has remained dependent on the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Services and local police for specialised assistance during major disasters and emergencies.

The proposed state-level force is aimed at reducing response times, improving coordination among agencies and strengthening Delhi's capacity to deal with disasters.

The move assumes particular significance in view of Delhi's vulnerability to earthquakes, as the national Capital falls under high-risk Seismic Zone-IV, as well as the threat of severe flooding and other emergencies requiring immediate and specialised rescue operations.

Essential inputs and recommendations for establishing a modern and state-of-the-art SDERF team were discussed during a meeting between senior Delhi government officials and senior NDRF officers at the Delhi Secretariat.

The government is taking steps to create a trained, capable and rapid-response mechanism that can be deployed within the national Capital during disasters, reducing dependence on external forces for immediate specialised assistance.

The decision comes shortly after the Satya Niketan building collapse, where rescue and relief operations involved coordinated efforts by multiple agencies and underscored the need for a stronger local disaster-response mechanism.

(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by Education Post)