Bhubaneswar: About 30.77 per cent schools in Odisha do not have usable toilets. This was found out in a study conducted by three voluntary organisations.
With schools and educational institutions reopening in Odisha, the state government has been urged by the organisations to prioritise construction and maintenance of the toilets of the school.
Atmashakti Trust and its allies Odisha Shramajeebee Mancha and Mahila Shramajeebee Mancha, Odisha jointly conducted the study. A total of 10,043 government-run schools in 82 blocks of 18 districts were considered for the study, reported The Times of India.
According to the study, 3,438 schools (34.34 per cent) are without 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,” the study 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 said.
It also highlighted 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,” Atmashakti Trust’s executive trustee, Ruchi Kashyap was quoted as saying by TOI.
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