HOW MANY OF US LOVE TO GO TOILETS? AND HOW MANY OF LOVE TO GO TO SCHOOL? AND HOW MANY OF US LOVE TO GO TO BOTH?

HOW MANY OF US LOVE TO GO TOILETS? AND HOW MANY OF LOVE TO GO TO SCHOOL? AND HOW MANY OF US LOVE TO GO TO BOTH?

IN INDIA …IN VILLAGES EITHER YOU WILL FIND SCHOOLS ( ONLY SCHOOL BUILDING) OR YOU WILL FIND SCHOOL BUILDINGS WITH CLOSED (LOCKED TOILETS). BOTH WOULD BE OPEN IS A RARE CASE.

ON AN AVERAGE 80% ( FACTUAL DATA) OF RURAL PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO TOILETS. FOR BOYS THEY DO IT ANY WHERE. WHAT GIRLS DOES-THEY JUST STOP COMING TO SCHOOL.

CONCERN IS HAOW MANY OF OUR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES /PROJECTS ARE TOILET INCLUSE OR TOILET PROMOTIVE PROJECTS? IN HOW MANY PROJECTS WE HAVE TOILET POLICY?

In 2nd week of Sept 2014, I was part of the JEEVIKA PRABHAV season four ( It’s our JEEVIKA project review cum learning cycle meet for three days with entire team of 7 partners and community members) 2nd day field visit group in Kalapatha village. While interacting with community I saw a school in outskirts of village and in curiosity went there and found hardly 14 students in entire school of till 5th standard. It was satellite school. A cute little girl, aged 12 years, studying in 5th standard in Kalapatha village (Khandwa, MP. JEEVIKA Project village) satellite school hardly comes to school, the reason she shared in her innocent voice is she has to hide herself from boys every time she has to go to toilet! In her house there is hut based toilet, but in school its locked!

This is not the issue of Kalaptaha only, but in most of the cases in primary schools in India. Nearly 1.9 lakh schools don't have girls' toilets or their toilets are "dysfunctional", according to a DISE (govt agency) report of 2013-14. That's 17 percent of all schools. Then, there are about 1.7 lakh schools that have no boys' toilets or toilets are un-useable. That's 15 percent of schools. A couple of decades ago, when the deplorable state of education began to be noticed, the importance of toilets was highlighted, and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) — the government’s flagship programme for universalisation of elementary education — included a specific provision for separate toilets for girls and boys. But soon after, a shift in focus to learning outcomes made toilets a dirty word as far as education was concerned, so much so that the emphasis on infrastructure, and toilets in particular, was held almost responsible for taking attention away from “learning.”

As mandated by the Right to Education Act, all children are required to spend six hours in school every day. During this period they would want to use the toilets. Irrespective of how and where they relieve themselves when at home, if the school does not have a functional toilet, they will need to go outside the school for their “bio-breaks.” The reality is that if they do leave the school, they are unlikely to return. Or if they are not allowed to leave, which is often the case for fear of the outcome mentioned above, they could end up soiling their clothes, for which they are likely to be penalised. A quick look at the complaints received by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (during 2010-2011, for instance) reveals that many complaints of corporal punishment were made because of this reason. Corporal punishment, like lack of toilets for girls, is a reason for dropouts. In addition to all children needing toilets in schools, the teachers also need them. They are required to spend even longer hours in school to complete non-teaching work as well as prepare for classes. The lack of adequate toilets often necessitates the locking of toilets by teachers for their exclusive use. Among poor working conditions for teachers in schools, the lack of toilets is one, and probably contributes to teachers’ less than desired rate of attendance. " Also, toilets are essential for girls who are having menstrual periods. Lack of toilets is also a big issue with women teachers. Working long hours without toilet facilities can be trying,"

Building toilets alone is not going to be sufficient - without water and daily maintenance they will be useless. In most rural primary schools there is a hand pump in the middle of the premises and water has to be carried to toilets at the periphery. Although there is no data on water for toilets but the stipulated hand-wash facility near the toilet was not available in 55 percent elementary schools and 42 percent secondary or higher schools, as per DISE. Since there is no budget for appointing a cleaner, maintenance becomes a huge problem, ultimately leading to the toilet being locked up.

Now concerns is that-What need to be changed-the attitude towards usage of toilets? Or understanding the importance of toilets in schools? On one side we increase number of schools and on another side attendance also falls?

What we are doing through JEEVIKA for the said issue?

· In Shivpuri included school toilet construction in village development micro-plan ( facilitated by JEEVIKA team)

·In Umariya SHG members visit every week to school and interact with school management on toilet and maintenance of it

·Formation of Youth groups in Khandwa who would be involve in strengthening school sanitation programme

·Including Farmers club and SHG effectiveness indicator-as opening and maintenance of School toilets .

Just think on the issue. Will building toilets help in bringing down girls' dropout rate?

Caritas India team memeber