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Govt schools to get new toilets, improved water facility, power by Feb

Subodh Bhasin. Dated: 1/14/2019 12:28:09 PM

Subodh Bhasin
Jammu, Jan 13
Children must have a right to basic facilities such as school toilets, safe drinking water, clean surroundings and basic information on hygiene. Water, sanitation and hygiene in schools creates an enabling environment which secures children’s dignity, safety, health and attendance in classes.
Children are more receptive and quick to adopt and sustain change. They become agents of change among their peers, families and communities. Teachers as influential individuals, supported by the school management committees, play an important catalytic role.
In India, central and state governments have committed to ensure inclusive access to WASH facilities in schools. Policies, programmes and commensurate resource allocations demonstrate the political will.
Taking into consideration, the state on Friday accorded sanction to the district-level committee for achieving the target of constructing toilets and providing drinking water and electricity in all government schools by February 28. The district development commissioner concerned will be the chairman of the panel while chief education officer, executive engineers of public health engineering department (PHE), power development department (PDD) and school education department would be its members.
As per a government order, the panel will do actual assessment of deficient schools on the minimum requirement basis and prepare detail project reports for the purpose; monitor the works executed by different agencies to ensure completion of works by February 28; and work out the requirement of additional funds for providing electricity and drinking water connections to schools.
Talking to Young Bites correspondent Ex Dy AG Dinesh Singh Jamwal said that while the Indian government is making great strides in the availability of toilets, this programme looks to increase advocacy and education necessary to convince people to use the toilets, and to create separate male and female toilets in schools together with hand-washing facilities.
Ashish Sawhney a teacher while appreciating the decision said that it is important to gain political support and government commitment to the programme. Toilet facilities, separate for boys and girls, with a hand-washing facility should be established in all schools. A toilet promotion programme will teach students and the local people about why and how to use the toilets through community involvement, radio messages, and other social marketing strategies.
He further added that the construction of toilets in schools will be helpful to control the spread of infectious diseases, and promote toilet usage at a young age to school children to convey proper usage and knowledge at home.