(a) whether the Government are making any special efforts to promote cleanliness in schools and if
so, the details thereof;
(b) whether there is any accurate provision to inspect the schools cleanliness in toilets and other
places which are not being taken care of and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether any proposal is under consideration to impose penalty where it is violated frequently
and if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)
(a) and (b) The Ministry of Human Resource Development had undertaken Swachh Vidyalaya
initiative to provide separate toilets for girls and boys in all Government schools within one year upto
15th August, 2015. Under the initiative, construction/re-construction of 4,17,796 toilets including
1,90,887 girls’ toilets was completed in 2,61,400 Government elementary and secondary schools as
reported by the States and UTs.
The Ministry has advised all State Governments and UT Administrations to ensure proper
maintenance of school toilets to keep them functional and also to take steps to bring about behavioural
changes among students and teachers through an intensive awareness campaign so that the school toilets
are properly used, and kept neat and clean. The Ministry has also advised States and UTs to encourage
school education authorities in promoting cleanliness and hygiene practices in schools by undertaking
various activities including Swachhata Pakhwada, appointment of Student Ambassador, singing
Swachhata songs in Bal Sabha/Children’s assembly, celebrating Swachhata Diwas, drawing/painting
competitions focusing on Swachhata in schools. The Ministry has also requested all States and UTs to
fill in the gaps, if any, in availability and functionality of toilets in schools.
The Department has instituted Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar from 2016-17 at district, state and
National level as a next step to Swachh Vidyalaya initiative. These awards are given to ensure long
term sustainability and behavior change towards cleanliness in schools. Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar is
an initiative to recognize, inspire and celebrate excellence in water, sanitation and hygiene practices in
schools. Selection of schools for the awards is made on the basis of 5 domains namely (i) Water, (ii)
Toilet, (iii) Hand washing with Soap, (iv) Operations and Maintenance, (v) Behaviour Change and
Capacity Building. Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar 2017-18 was open to Private schools besides
Government and Government aided schools. A total of 6,15,152 schools registered online for the
Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar 2017-18 which is more than double the number of schools (2.68 lakh
schools in 2016-17) who participated last year. This has institutionalized a Swachhata ranking system
for excellence in water, sanitation and hygiene in schools across the country.
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has also advised the Panchayati Raj Departments of all States in
March, 2016 to include inter alia the provision for rehabilitation/repair of existing toilets and drinking
water systems in schools as per the norms and requirements, while preparing Gram Panchayat
Development Plans for using Fourteenth Finance Commission Grants.
The Ministries of Human Resource Development (Department of School Education & Literacy),
Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation have also jointly addressed
the States regarding participation and support of Gram Panchayats in putting in place proper
arrangements for regular cleaning of school toilets and waste disposal in schools.
(c) No, Madam. There is no such proposal.
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