Centre asks states to create hand washing facilities, train teachers to impart hygiene education to students

NEW DELHI: The centre has asked the states and union territories (UTs) to create hand washing facilities with a provision of soap and to train teachers to impart hygiene education to students in all the schools across the country.

The states and UTs have given flexibility and have been asked to fast track the provision of stand-alone piped water supply solutions and simple, sustainable solar solutions. Any requirement of funds for repair or construction of toilets, hand washing facilities or drinking water will be met from funds being released under the 15th finance commission, state finance commission, National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGS), district mineral funds and any other sources, following the extant guidelines of these schemes and sources.

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In an advisory issued by the department of school education and literacy, ministry of education, ministry of jal shakti, NITI ayog, ministry of rural development and the panchayti raj, it is mentioned that improved sanitation, provision of drinking water and cleanliness has always been a priority of the government.

Programmes in mission-mode such as the swachh bharat mission- grameen (SBM-G) and jal jeevan mission (JJM) are tactics implemented by the government in improving the living standards of the people. The focus of SBM-G is on open defecation free (ODF) sustainability and solid and liquid waste management. The objective of such programmes is to ensure that no one is left behind from access to improved living standards including the schools.

Under ODF plus, it is to be ensured that all schools in villages have arrangements for management of bio-degradable waste, grey water and proper functioning toilets in all schools. The unified district information system for education (UDISE+) report 2021-22 shows the lack of toilets and hand washing facilities.

Centre has asked states that all these gaps need to be filled, further, hand washing facilities with the provision of soap in all the schools. In addition to this, it is also essential that hygiene education is imparted to the children on all aspects of hygiene.

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To achieve this, at least one teacher in each school must be trained in hygiene education who in turn should train the children through interesting activities and community projects that emphasise hygienic behaviour. A chapter on swachhta has been included in supplementary material at primary level developed by NCERT to inculcate good hygiene practices in the schools.

The advisory also mentions that under the jal jeevan mission, making provision of safe tap water supply in schools, anganwadi centres, ashram shalas is a top priority of the government to ensure good health and wellbeing of children. This campaign was launched on 2nd October, 2020, aimed at bringing focus on the public health dimension of young children by assuring supply of safe drinking water, especially in a pandemic. According to UDISE+ 2021-22 data, so far, out of nearly 10.22 lakh government schools, functional drinking water facility has been provided in 9.83 lakh [approximately 96%) government schools.