DoE gets down & dirty with sub-campaign to mop up mess
In order to take forward the Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan launched by the Prime Minister, the Directorate of Education (DoE) of the Delhi Government has decided to launch a sub-campaign under the same umbrella. With an aim to make cleanliness a habit at all levels, the directorate is organising a month-long Swachchh Vidyalaya Swachchh Delhi Abhiyan from October 2 to October 31. This campaign will take place in all Government, aided and unaided schools, headquarters, field offices, field branches, sports complexes, Patrachar Vidyalayas, science centre and all other establishments of the directorate.
The directorate wants that no corners are cut during this campaign and is looking at introducing the campaign at personal, official and community levels especially among children, teachers, staff, officers and through them, in the community and the country.
According to the campaign layout, the responsibility of ensuring that everything goes on properly is with the principals. “Principals of all schools along with teachers will ensure the activities related to unlock and unblock every single toilet in the school, cleaning of drinking water area, get the façade and entrance of the building cleaned and decorated, take cleanliness pledge every day during morning assembly, participate in competitions and events organised by the school during the campaign,” said Madhu Teotia, Additional Director of Education in a letter issued to all schools.
A few measures have also laid out by the directorate so that no one lags behind in ensuring the task is done. “Wash your hands before and after meals, take the message of cleanliness from school to the family and neighbourhood, talk to parents and neighbours about the importance of personal hygiene and keeping the locality clean and plant saplings on the birthdays and look after it. The success of the campaign depends on the active involvement of students in it,” explained Teotia.
Teotia pointed out in the letter that one of the immediate outcomes of this campaign is total cleanliness. “Total cleanliness in schools, offices and stadia, functional and cleaned toilets, condemnation of unserviceable items like desks, old furniture and electrical items, plantation at suitable locations within school premises, awareness generation on hygiene and cleanliness among students, staff and local community,” she wrote. Since the campaign will kickoff in two days, all schools have been notified on what needs to be done. The directorate has issued a notice of compliance.