Lok Sabha Question No. 1027 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-26
Subject: Water and Sanitation Facilities in Schools
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Raghu Ramakrishna Raju Kanumuru

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1027 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2021

## Water and Sanitation Facilities in Schools

## 1027.     SHRI KANUMURU RAGHU RAMA KRISHNA RAJU:

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 date;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has set any time bound targets to provide drinking water and sanitation facilities in all schools; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof including the funds earmarked for this purpose and the target set for completion?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) and (b) As per Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE), 201920,  out  of  10,32,569  number  of  Government  schools  in  the  country,  10,01,788 Government Schools have drinking water facility; 9,63,636 Government schools have boys toilets and 9,88,293 Government schools have girls toilets.
- (c) and (d) 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,  and  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. 201819.  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 based on the identified gaps. The scheme also provides for an annual  recurring  composite  school  grant  varying  upto  Rs.  1,00,000/-  per  annum depending upon the number of students, for all government schools, out of which at least  10%  is  to  be  spent  on  activities  related  to  Swachhata  Action  Plan  (SAP)  for hygiene  and  sanitation.  Release  of  funds  for  SAP  Component  under  Samagra Shiksha for the years 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 are given below:

| Year    |   Amount (Rs. in Lakh) |
|---------|------------------------|
| 2018-19 |                20052.4 |
| 2019-20 |                22401   |
| 2020-21 |                22924.6 |

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