Rural households and government schools were found to have the least access to sanitation and water facilities.
By Sushmita Dey
Meerut: Over the years, Uttar Pradesh - one of the most populated cities in India - has been declared 100% Open Defecation Free and regarded as a success of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA).
Despite being declared 100% ODF, there are many villages and schools where the problem still persists.
A recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India mentioned that 40% of the toilets in government schools across the country were found to be non-existent, partially constructed and unused. Thus, 75 per cent of the selected, were not maintained hygienically.
The same situation can be seen in some of the schools in the Meerut district. While visiting them, we found that the toilets are in the worst condition. It has broken tiles, dirty bowls, broken doors, and no-water connection. However, in Teharki, students have to fill a bucket at the hand pump, which is twenty steps away from the toilet.
On being asked Salim Uddhin, principal of Upper Primary School, Teharki about the condition, he said, “We’ve filed complaints numerous times to the village head, the only thing he says is that we will do the construction soon. But soon is not near.”
We don’t have a submersible connection, but it will be installed soon with the money from the government. The construction will start soon during the elections, he added.
According to Manjit Singh, Community Health Official, Teharki, the primary issue is often due to the management of the funds provided to schools. “Toilets and water connection problems become the least priority for school authorities to address in government schools.”
Access to sanitary pads is another issue of concern for sanitation for the children. Due to the non-facilitating school environment, it is difficult for the girls to attend the school.
Under the Kishori Suraksha Yojna scheme, the state government said that free sanitary napkins will be provided to adolescent girls in government and aided schools aiming that nobody skips classes during their menstrual cycle.
One of the teachers from the Composite Vidhyalay Khirwa, Jalalpur, said, "It’s been more than 14 years that any organization visited our school and distributed sanitary napkins or talked about menstrual health."
“I got my admission here in class three and now studying in class eight. I didn't receive sanitary napkins from the school. We don't have any hygiene facility, and it is not feasible to go home either,” said Arshi, a 13-year-old student.
These basic necessities are essential for the development of the children but cannot be achieved without governmental support and access to basic facilities.
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