Small adjustment in hand pumps in schools is likely to decide the course of ‘Swachchh Bharat’ mission in thousands of temples of education deprived of supply water due to hindrances.
The minor adjustment in design of hand-pumps has been suggested by the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department as also a model has been developed by international agencies to promote hygienic practices by tweaking existing structures.
The DWSD suggested lifting hand-pumps by 2-3 feet above the ground, attaching water tanks to it and provide water through small loop of pipes to assist mid-day meal schemes in Government schools.
The seemingly inconsequential step was proposed by the DWSD to the department of Human Resource Development to make best use of resources towards the significant goals of ‘Swachh Bharat’ mission. The design was originally meant for schools where water pipeline projects could not reach due to topography.
“We had suggested that to the HRD as we lacked funds. It would have cost us around 90-crore to implement the changes in all schools. What we can offer now is the technical expertise as we have asked them to utilize their funds for it,” said Secretary DWSD, AP Singh.
The design was originally proposed by an international agency however high cost threw spanner in the works. Even as the structural changes were introduced in a school in Bero on trial basis it could not be replicated on a greater scale due to fund crunch.
The minute adjustments cost around `15,000-20,000 and includes a vat or tank that forms a major portion of the expenditure.
“We had asked the department of HRD to look into the usefulness of the system and whether it can be implemented in schools,” maintained Singh.
Nonetheless, the School Education and literacy department suggested that it has left the decision at the discretion of local units of the department and is also looking for similar models available at cost lower than model suggested by DWSD. The dep
“We have given independence to local units to go for whatever model available at cheaper rates. Vat is also one such model,” said Secretary, School Education and literacy, Aradhana Patnaik.
However, acceptance of the improvised model is yet to ascertained due to delegation of power to the local units.