Swachh Vidyalaya

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reviewed the progress of the Swachh Vidyalaya Programme at a high-level meeting comprising top officials from the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the NITI Aayog and the PMO. It may be recalled that the Prime Minister had announced from the ramparts of the Red Fort during his Independence Day address last year, his government’s intention to construct toilets in all schools within one year.

Toilets are being constructed by States, PSUs, as well as some private sector entities. Based on the available data, several states are already close to achieving the hundred per cent target. The Ministry of Human Resource Development has launched Swachh Vidyalaya Programme under Swachh Bharat Mission with an objective to provide separate toilets for boys and girls in all government schools within one year.

The Ministry financially supports States/Union Territories inter alia to provide toilets for girls and boys in schools under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA). Under SSA and RMSA 88,728 toilets have been sanctioned during 2014-15. As many as 1.58 lakh toilets as well as dysfunctional toilets have been taken up by PSUs, corporates for construction or repairs. Besides an amount of Rs 56.51 crore has been allocated from the Swachh Bharat Kosh for re-construction and repairs of the dysfunctional toilets.

In addition, the Kendriya Vidyalays and Navodaya Vidyalya Sangathans would organise film, shows, model activities on hygiene, essay/painting and other competitions, role plays etc. to reiterate the messages of cleanliness, good hygiene and proper sanitation. The Ministry also proposes to introduce half an hour cleaning campaign twice a week in the school involving students, teachers, parents and community members. The Centre has also decided to take steps to enhance engagement of Indians residing in other countries in social development philanthropic projects like Namami Gange, Swachh Bharat and Swachh Vidyalaya.

The government aims to build 12 crore toilets over the next five years. By Independence Day 2015, Modi has promised that all government schools in the country would have separate toilets for girls. Building toilets not only has an intrinsic value as people do not need to defecate in open areas but also has numerous extrinsic benefits. When someone sits down and carries an appraisal of Swachh Bharat after a few years, he/she must account for both these forms of benefits.