Lok Sabha Question No. 1168 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Drinking Water and Sanitation Facilities in Schools
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Dibyendu Adhikari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1168 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  SEPTEMBER, 2020

## Drinking Water and Sanitation Facilities in Schools

## 1168.  SHRI DIBYENDU ADHIKARI:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the  total  number  of  schools  in  the  country  that  do  not  have  adequate  drinking  water  and sanitation facilities as on August 2020;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  set  any  time  bound  targets  to  provide  drinking  water  and sanitation facilities in all the schools ; and
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  funds  earmarked  for  the  purpose  and  the  target  of completion?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

- (a) As  per  UDISE+  2018-19  (Provisional),  total  number  of  schools  in  the  country  is  15.50 lakh,  out  of  which,  14.14  lakh  schools  have  functional  drinking  water  facility  and  14.45  lakh schools have functional toilets.
- (b)  and  (c)  Education is in the  concurrent list of Constitution and most of the schools are under jurisdiction of concerned States &  UTs.  State and UT  Governments  are  the  appropriate Governments under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. The appropriate  Governments  have  the  responsibility  and  mandate  to  provide  school  infrastructure including drinking water and toilet facilities in schools in accordance with the norms laid down in the Schedule to the RTE Act, 2009 and as per respective State RTE Rules. States and UTs have been repeatedly advised to ensure that all the schools, including those under the non-Government sector (private, aided schools, etc.) in their jurisdiction should have provision for separate toilets for boys and girls; and safe and adequate drinking water facilities for all children.

The  Department  of  School  Education  and  Literacy  has  launched  an  Integrated  Centrally Sponsored Scheme for School Education - Samagra Shiksha w.e.f. 2018-19, which subsumes the three erstwhile Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE). Under Samagra Shiksha, States and UTs are supported for strengthening of existing Government schools, and for creation and augmentation of infrastructure facilities including drinking water and toilets as per proposals received from respective State/UT. The scheme also envisages an annual recurring composite school grant varying upto Rs. 1,00,000/per  annum  depending  upon  the  number  of  students,  for  all  government  schools.  Each  school  is required  to  spend  at  least  10%  of  the  composite  school  grant  on  activities  related  to  Swachhata Action Plan for maintenance and repair of school building including toilets and other facilities to keep the infrastructure in good condition.

Under erstwhile SSA till 2017-18 and Samagra Shiksha effective from 2018-19, provision of  2.50  lakh  drinking  water  facilities,  construction  of  4.08  lakh  Boys'  toilets,  5.28  lakh  separate girls' toilets and 1.54 lakh toilets for Children with Special Needs (CwSN) have been sanctioned for elementary schools to States and UTs.  Out of which, States and UTs have reported completion of  2.35  lakh  drinking  water  facilities,  construction  of  3.84  lakh  Boys'  toilets,  5.14  lakh  separate girls' toilets and 1.27 lakh toilets for CwSN till 31.08.2020.  Under erstwhile RMSA till 2017-18 and Samagra Shiksha from 2018-19, provision of 12,388 drinking water facilities, construction of 33716  Boys'  toilets,  35866  Girls'  toilets',  1,856  toilets  for  CwSN  have  been  sanctioned  for secondary  and  senior  secondary  schools  to  States  and  UTs.  Out  of  which,  States  and  UTs  have reported completion of  10,331 drinking water facilities, construction of 25087 Boys' toilets, 25214 separate girls' toilets and 105 toilets for CwSN till 31.08.2020.

During 2020-21, under Samagra Shiksha Scheme, approval has been given for the provision of  drinking  water  facilities  in  4840  schools  with  an  estimate  of  Rs.7995.54  lakh  and  for construction of 4124 boys' toilets, 2957 girls' toilets and 4022 CwSN toilets with an estimate of Rs. 23069.31 lakh.

The  Department  of  School  Education  &  Literacy  had  undertaken  Swachh  Vidyalaya initiative to provide separate toilets for girls and boys in all Government schools within one year upto  15 th August,  2015.  Under  the  initiative,  construction/re-construction  of  4,17,796  toilets  was completed in 2,61,400 Government elementary and secondary schools in one year till 15 th August 2015.

The Ministry  of  Panchayati  Raj  has  also  advised  the  Panchayati  Raj  Departments  of  all States  to  include  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 Ministry of Education (Department  of  School  Education  &  Literacy),  Ministry  of  Panchayati  Raj  and  Department  of Drinking Water and Sanitation have also jointly requested the State/UT Governments to improve water supply and sanitation systems in schools through the Gram Panchayats.

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