In the new academic session, students of government schools in Ganjam district of Odisha have to speak out whether they have toilets at their home or not in stead of saying ‘present sir or madam’ during morning attendance.
This is an effort to make school going children catalysts to end open air defecation in the district. Taking cue from similar effort in Narmada district of Gujarat, administration and education department in Ganjam has decided to start it in every high school, upper primary school and primary school of the district. Speaking to The Hindu , District Education Officer (DEO) Sanatan Panda said now this innovative measure has started in 683 high schools, 1,250 upper primary schools and 2,430 primary schools of the district.
Part of sanitation drive
As per this new decision, during the morning attendance in classes, students will have to tell whether their homes have toilets or not to give their attendance to the class teacher. Children would also be made aware why open air defection is a bane for all. It is part of the sanitation drive ‘Ama Swabhiman, Swachha Ganjam’ continuing in the district for more than a year in which schools are also included.
Decision for it was taken on June 17. All Block Education Officers (BEO) of the district were instructed to start the process in schools of their area from the next day. During an earlier district level meeting on planning of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) department discussions had been held regarding speeding up toilets in every home project. This meeting was also attended by the DEO as school sanitation was also part of discussion and similar effort taken up in schools in Narmada district was discussed. Collector Prem Chand Choudhary had opined that children can be the best motivators to compel families to have toilets in their homes, said the DEO.
Children best motivators
Despite financial help of government to build toilets, families do not prefer to have them in their homes. For various reasons they prefer open air defecation. “We felt the elders in a family can be best motivated by the children to opt for toilets in their houses”, said Mr Panda. Through this process toilets would become a matter of pride and competition among the children. It is envisioned that those who do not have toilets at their homes would press upon their parents to have one. As the children would be having knowledge about necessity of toilet, dangers of open air defecation as well as government support to build toilets, they may be able to motivate their parents in right manner. Result of this scheme would be assessed after one month through collection of data regarding how many children did not have toilets in their homes in the beginning and after one month families of how many of them have taken steps to construct toilets.
Foundation for this new scheme was already there in Ganjam district. As part of ‘Ama Swabhiman, Swachha Ganjam’ movement sanitation was part of school activity in all schools of the district. Monday was meant for personal hygiene, Tuesday for school and class room cleanliness, Wednesday for cleanliness of toilets in school and conservation of drinking water, Thursday was the day of cleaning of school campus, Friday was meant for motivating children for cleanliness at their homes, Saturday was for sanitation and cleanliness of locality. So, most children in schools of Ganjam district were almost prepared for this new promotion of toilets in their homes.
It is envisioned that those who do not have toilets at their homes would press upon their parents to have one
