Separate toilets for girls and boys in the government schools have been made mandatory by both the Supreme Court and the Government of India with instructions that the construction of toilets in schools should be finished by the next academic year. However, more than the construction of toilets, it is the maintenance of these toilets which became a problem for authorities.
Due to non-maintenance of toilets in the government schools, new toilets are being constructed every year.
To address the problem of maintenance, the authorities have been contemplating to entrust the responsibility to members of self help groups (SHGs), who run mid-day meal system in the government schools.
“The idea is to provide Rs.3,000 as wage and material cost to the SHGs for maintaining toilets in the schools. Those who will be entrusted with this responsibility will be monitored by the school management committee,” Shaik Yasmin Basha, Project Director, SSA, told The Hindu .
There are as many as 2,984 government schools in Medak district.
The district unit of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) was entrusted with the responsibility of constructing 889 new toilets and repairing 897 dysfunctional toilets.
In a recent meeting held at the district headquarters, Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao entrusted the responsibility of constructing toilets in 26 mandals to Rural Water Supply (RWS) Department and in remaining 20 mandals to SSA.
Other amenities
Providing running water, clearing drainages, supply of drinking water, constructing a sump/ water tank where there is no provision to establish an overhead tank, construction of an overhead tank were also identified as immediate requirements in the schools.
Meanwhile, the new toilet units will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.25 lakh with funds sanctioned by the Union government. This will have a handwash, toilet, four urinal units and a water tub.
In addition, the administration has been making efforts to rope in big companies under the corporate social responsibility to take up the construction of toilets.
Already some companies such as TCS and BDL took up construction of toilets and 40 units were completed by TCS so far. BDL has yet to commence the work.
IDBI and Andhra Bank will also be contributing their mite.
According to sources, while the construction activity was started by SSA, the officials of the RWS had still not begun the work due to various reasons.
