After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s observation in his Teachers’ Day speech that the girls drop out from studies due to lack of toilets in schools, the education department officials here seem to have awakened from their slumber. The department is now scurrying to collect the exact data about the conditions of toilets in the government schools.
The centrally funded Sarva Shikha Abhiyan (SSA) is responsible for construction and maintenance of infrastructure of the government schools. When contacted the SSA officials said that the district offices have been asked to furnish the number and the condition of toilets in the schools of the State.
The sources also informed that though the issue of toilets is regularly raised at many forums but it was the PM’s speech on September 5 which prompted the renewed action of department. The department data updated till July this year reveals that out of total 17,194 primary and upper primary schools of State 358 schools do not have the girls toilet facility while 188 schools do not have the facility of boys toilet. The Executive Engineer (Ex En) SSA, BS Dogra said approval for construction of 192 girls toilet in this financial year has been given. He accepted that many toilets in remote areas are non functional due to absence water or for want of repairs. Educationists said student drop out especially of girls could be reduced if existing toilets in government schools are maintained properly. A retired Principal US Gusain said over 50 per cent schools are in such a bad shape that students do not use them.