The guidelines require schools to seek permission of authorities concerned 15 days in advance and take parents of participating students into confidence at the stage of planning while also ensuring a stringent check on the travel vehicles, drivers and all other safety procedures.

Stating that the field trips must be those that “are in the interest of education”, the GR advises against indulging in boating activities in water bodies and also adventure camps that can be “risky”. It states, “Boating should be avoided as far as possible during picnics. If a boating is planned, then the boat should not be allowed to carry more than the recommended (number of) passengers. One teacher and attendant must be present with each group and life jackets and other safety equipment should be used. Similarly, unsafe places such as adventure camps, rides should be avoided and those trips be planned that are in the interest of education.”

In case of overnight stays, picnic groups must reach the chosen destination latest by 10pm. The GR also makes it mandatory for schools to form committees under the chairmanship of the school principal, comprising a representation from parents, to discuss the locations, advantages, safety, routes and other necessary issues related to the picnics.

For picnics undertaken at locations within the state, the schools must seek permission from the District Education Officer or the District Primary Education Officer while for excursions outside the state, approval from the Commissioner of Schools would be needed. For international locations, permission from the education department and secretariat has been made mandatory.

All permissions are to be sought 15 days ahead, submitting day to day program of the picnic, the GR stated. The schools have been directed to appoint a “responsible and experienced” person as the convener, who will ensure that the picnics are conducted as per plan. The GR said, “A meeting should be held with parents of the participating students…If a parent has not attended the meeting, a written consent must be sought which should be verified through a phone call. The picnics are not to be made mandatory.”

Schools have been asked to appoint at least one teacher per 15 students and exclude students with illness or weakness or “allergies”. “In case of joint picnics for male and female students, female attendants must be included during the journey. Students should also be given clear instructions with dos and don’ts and a brief plan of safety,” the GR stated.

Emphasis has also been laid on the demeanor of drivers. “If a driver appears to be intoxicated, the travel should be suspended…speed limit should be followed. Vehicle condition should be inspected and documents pertaining to ownership, registration and permit of the vehicle be procured in advance… Consumption of alcohol or other intoxicants during picnics by students, teachers or drivers is strictly prohibited,” the GR added.

The GR also stated that schools must plan travel after considering weather forecasts to account for any unpleasant calamities such as cyclones, heavy rainfall, cold wave and earthquake.

The GR comes close to a month after around 16,000 schools in the state signed a petition, urging that the government issue guidelines in order to allow schools to plan field trips at the end of the Diwali.
vacations.

The principal of a Vadodara-based school, who was also a signatory to the petition, told The Indian Express“While we have been deeply anguished by the Harni tragedy, it has also made all of us aware that letting down our guard can cause an irreparable loss… However, we must move forward and allow the students to have exposure to places that are safe and will enrich their knowledge. Picnics and field trips are not only fun but also bring an experience that books cannot give. We are glad that the state government has issued the detailed guidelines. We will go through them and plan our field trips accordingly.”