Survey finds government school toilets to lack basic convenience

NEW DELHI: A survey of government schools conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has found half the school toilets do not have even the handwashing facility. These toilets were built by Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) under a scheme launched by the Education ministry. The CAG survey reported that the toilets lack running water, poor maintenance, and unavailability of separate toilets for girls.

Fifty-three CPSEs had participated in the program and had constructed 1,40,997 toilets. CAG examined the construction of toilets by seven of the fifty-three CSPEs across 2048 schools in 15 states. Out of the constructed toilets surveyed, 30 percent were found not in use because of lack of running water, lack of cleaning arrangements, damages or the toilets being used for other purposes. 11 percent of the total toilets surveyed were non-existent or partially constructed.

CAG recommended the concerned ministries to address all that is lacking in the toilets built by CPSEs in the report tabled in the parliament. It also suggested CPSEs review at the remaining 98 percent of the school toilets across the nation and take necessary actions (for the survey only included 2 percent of the schools).