Additional Toilets to SN UP School in Venganoor Grama Panchayat (Thiruvananthapuram District)

Responding to a question from a student, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that in the absence of toilets, students, especially girls who enroll in primary school do not continue for too long. A historical analysis of data from 23 states in India confirms this.

Statistics shown that at the national level, 19.15 percent of primary schools do not have separate toilets for girls, 6 percent of all primary schools do not have drinking water facility while 58.4 percent of all primary schools do not have a hand-washing facility near their toilets. (Source : DISE Report, 2013-14)

In this circumstance, Venganoor Grama Panchayat constructed additional toilet facilities to SN UP School to ensure adequate sanitation facilities as the school authorities have reported shortage of urinals.

Currently there are about 400 students enrolled in the UP School. The school has already urinals for students and staff which were not sufficient as the enrolment of students increases periodically. So the school authorities seek support from the Grama Panchayat for the construction of toilets on an emergency basis.

The project implemented in 2013-14 with a KLGSDP fund of Rs.23293. They established water and electricity connection to the toilets. A part time sweeper is there for the proper maintenance of the toilets. Separate toilet facilities are available for boys and girls.

The project helps in developing better hygiene behaviour and reduces the incidence of disease and infections which in turn can improve attendance.