Over 42k Govt Schools Lack Drinking Water, 15K Have No Toilets, Says Education Minister

New Delhi: Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal on Thursday said that government schools in India are not providing students with basic amenities such as washrooms and clean drinking water.

He said research showed that over 42,000 government schools across the country do not have drinking water facilities, while more than 15,000 schools have no toilets. The minister quoted statistics from Unified District Information System For Education (UDISE) to support his response on education to a written question in the Rajya Sabha.

“As per UDISE, 2018-19, out of 10,83,747 total number of government schools in the country, 10,41,327 government schools have drinking water facility and 10,68,726 government schools have toilets,” he said in his written reply.

The Minister also said that it is the responsibility of the respective state governments to ensure that these facilities are being provided in all the government schools under their jurisdiction.

“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 minister added.