This refers to the editorial “ >Closure to a tragic episode ” (Aug. 1). The verdict in the Kumbakonam fire case is certainly welcome but the real problem has far deeper roots. As the editorial points out, the founder of the school saw the school as nothing more than a money making enterprise. And today’s world is, sadly, rife with people like him. Be it the whopping amounts demanded as admission fees/donations or changes in school uniforms, institutions seem to have the wrong priorities.
Schools must have proper fire safety measures in place. They should keep the staff and students educated on the use of safety equipment, and conduct regular fire drills. One hopes the government will become stricter in enforcing the regulations, and less vulnerable to corruption.
Chhavi Agrawal,Bangalore
The court has acquitted 11 persons, most of them officials. Obviously, the parents of children who lost their lives will be sore over this part of the verdict. But the verdict is a warning to school managements that they cannot escape the rigours of law when they fail to ensure the safety of students.
A. Michael Dhanaraj,Coimbatore
