Lok Sabha Question No. 3217 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-31
Subject: Cleanliness in Government Schools
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SAVITRI THAKUR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3217 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31 ST  DECEMBER, 2018

## Cleanliness in Government Schools

## †3217.    SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government are making any special efforts to promote cleanliness in schools and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  there  is  any  accurate  provision  to  inspect  the  schools  cleanliness  in  toilets  and  other places which are not being taken care of and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether any proposal is under consideration to impose penalty where it is violated frequently and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a) and (b) The  Ministry  of  Human  Resource  Development  had  undertaken  Swachh  Vidyalaya initiative to provide separate toilets for girls and boys in all Government schools within one year upto 15th  August,  2015.  Under  the  initiative,  construction/re-construction  of  4,17,796  toilets  including 1,90,887  girls'  toilets  was  completed  in  2,61,400  Government  elementary  and  secondary  schools  as reported by the States and UTs.

The  Ministry  has  advised  all  State  Governments  and  UT  Administrations  to  ensure  proper maintenance of school toilets to keep them functional and also to take steps to bring about behavioural changes among students and teachers through an intensive awareness campaign so that the school toilets are properly used, and kept neat and clean.  The Ministry has also advised States and UTs to encourage school education authorities in promoting cleanliness and hygiene practices in schools by undertaking various  activities  including  Swachhata  Pakhwada,  appointment  of  Student  Ambassador,  singing Swachhata  songs  in  Bal  Sabha/Children's  assembly,  celebrating  Swachhata  Diwas,  drawing/painting competitions focusing on Swachhata in schools. The Ministry has also requested all States and UTs to fill in the gaps, if any, in availability and functionality of toilets in schools.

The Department has instituted Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar from 2016-17 at district, state and National level as a next step to Swachh Vidyalaya initiative.  These awards are given to ensure long term sustainability and behavior change towards cleanliness in schools. Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar is an initiative to recognize, inspire and celebrate excellence in water, sanitation and hygiene practices in schools.  Selection of schools for the awards is made on the basis of 5 domains namely (i) Water, (ii) Toilet,  (iii)  Hand  washing  with  Soap,  (iv)  Operations  and  Maintenance,  (v)  Behaviour  Change  and Capacity  Building. Swachh  Vidyalaya  Puraskar  2017-18  was  open  to  Private  schools  besides Government  and  Government  aided  schools.    A  total  of  6,15,152  schools  registered  online  for  the Swachh  Vidyalaya  Puraskar  2017-18  which  is  more  than  double  the  number  of  schools  (2.68  lakh schools in 2016-17) who participated last year. This has institutionalized a Swachhata ranking system for excellence in water, sanitation and hygiene in schools across the country.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has also advised the Panchayati Raj Departments of all States in March, 2016 to include inter alia the provision for rehabilitation/repair of existing toilets and drinking water  systems  in  schools  as  per  the  norms  and  requirements,  while  preparing  Gram  Panchayat Development Plans for using Fourteenth Finance Commission Grants.

The Ministries of Human Resource Development (Department of School Education & Literacy), Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation have also jointly addressed the  States  regarding  participation  and  support  of  Gram  Panchayats  in  putting  in  place  proper arrangements for regular cleaning of school toilets and waste disposal in schools.

(c) No, Madam. There is no such proposal.

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