BHUBANESWAR: A study conducted by three voluntary organisations revealed that 30.77% schools in Odisha do not have usable toilets.
With schools reopening, the organizations have urged the state government to prioritise building and maintenance of school toilets.
Lack of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in a school is linked to interest of students to attend classes. But many schools in rural areas do not have proper washrooms or drinking water facilities.
The study was conducted jointly by Atmashakti Trust and its allies - Odisha Shramajeebee Mancha and Mahila Shramajeebee Mancha, Odisha. The survey was conducted across 10,043 government-run schools in 82 blocks of 18 districts.
The study revealed that 3,438 schools (34.34%) do not have drinking water facilities. "Safe drinking water in schools not only keeps school-going children free of dehydration and sickness, but also helps in bringing down absenteeism," it stated.
"The RTE Act states that each school should have separate toilets for girls and boys and a safe and adequate drinking water facility. However, Odisha's performance in WASH intervention is not that impressive. Hygiene and school enrolment are directly proportional," the study highlighted. It also underlined the need to maintain school toilets in the state.
"As school reopens, the government needs to prioritise building and upkeep of school toilets to bring girls back to schools. After all, a toilet for girls is a more dignified aspect than a facility," said Ruchi Kashyap, executive trustee of Atmashakti Trust.
On World Toilet Day, the trust and its allies have initiated a 'Red Dot' campaign. According to this campaign, children will mark their school premises in red colour, symbolically to highlight where they do not have access to a toilet. The aim of this campaign seems to be to draw the government's attention towards poor sanitation in schools, especially in rural areas.
