BHOPAL : Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to achieve the target of construction of toilets in schools. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of Independence Day, had called for construction of toilets in all schools.
The state government has successfully accomplished the target of construction of 16,000 toilets and that too five days in advance of the deadline. Other states have met merely 20 to 25 per cent of the target.
There were around 36,000 schools across the state where there were no toilets. A Public Sector Units (PSUs) was assigned the work to construct 20,000 toilets. The PSUs are being aided by the state government to accomplish the target, which would be met by July 15. The state government had launched a campaign to construct more than one toilet in schools which cater to be a bigger population and it had to construct 13,000 toilets. This target would also be accomplished by June 30.
The state government has apprised the Central government of its success in accomplishing the target. The state government expects that the construction of the toilets – each costing Rs 1.40 lakh – would give a fillip to its ‘School Chalein Hum Campaign’. A survey report had revealed that a large number of girls drop out from schools that do not have toilets.
School Education Department Additional Chief Secretary SR Mohanti said District Collectors and Chief Executive Officers deserve praise for making this ambitious campaign successful. Mohanti said 50,000 new toilets would be constructed by July 15 in the state. He said Madhya Pradesh is the only state in the country where the toilets will have railing and ramp for the differently abled. Besides, there would be arrangements of 24 hours water and power supply.
People’s reps do not chip in Toilets may have been constructed in the schools with the help of Central Government and PSUs but many people’s representatives have not released funds for the same, despite making announcements.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and MP Anil Dave did keep their promise but others did not.
