Every afternoon, Sushmita and her friends walk up to Marwari Women’s College or nearby shopping mall during the break between classes at Marwari higher secondary school. Their reason for going to these places is not bunking the classes or having fun but the toilets over there.
“We have just four washrooms for 4,000 students, two for boys and two for girls but they are rarely clean. The stench is intolerable. We have not been there in months,” Shushmita said.
Marwari Higher Secondary School at upper bazaar has a washroom that has broken taps, no bucket and no water supply. As a result of which many students avoid using school toilets.“I avoid it as much as possible,” said Anshu, Class VIII student.
Not only Marwari School but other Government schools of the city also share the same story. In many Government schools it is found that washrooms are missing from their premises while those who have are not insufficient number. Though Supreme Court in the year 2011 had directed all States and union territories to ensure that basic toilet facilities are provided in all the Government schools but it seems that the city’s Government schools have failed to implement the orders.
Ajit Kumar student of Rajkrit Primary School said, “Our school washroom is not in proper condition so we prefer to use roadside corners. Though our teachers tell us not urinate at public places as we are left with no option.”
lack of sanitation workers and financial crunch are restraining the school administration from maintaining proper sanitation facilities within their school premises.
Principal of Marwari School Braj Kishor frustratingly asked, “How do we keep toilet clean with no sanitation workerIJ’’ He claims that the workers often demand more than Rs 500 for cleaning and that the school cannot spend so much on just toilets. He also holds the students equally responsible for this. “Our students mostly belong from poor economic background so they are not accustomed to using close toilet and flushing it with water,” he added.