The Ministry of Education has banned asbestos in the construction and refurbishment of Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) across India.
The ban is due to the severe health risks associated with asbestos exposure, aiming to create a cancer-free learning environment for children.
Asbestos is a known Group 1 carcinogen, linked to lung cancer, mesothelioma, and chronic respiratory diseases, causing over 200,000 deaths annually.
While India has banned asbestos mining, it still imports and processes chrysotile (white asbestos) for asbestos-cement roofing.
The Ministry of Education has issued guidelines to ban asbestos in new construction and refurbishment projects in all KVs and JNVs.
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) has instructed principals to strictly enforce the ban in all ongoing and future projects, replacing existing asbestos structures.
The initiative aims to gradually phase out asbestos use in schools and build a healthier, cancer-free nation for children.
Over 65 countries have already banned asbestos due to its hazardous effects.
