JOIN USNGO to rate toilet blocks in schools
Aimed at upgrading the condition of toilet blocks in its schools, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation has now sought the service of an NGO to assess the condition of toilet blocks in schools under its jurisdiction and rate them accordingly.
The decision comes in the wake of several complaints being registered with the corporation about the unhygienic condition of toilet blocks in its schools, even as the reports collated by the engineering department of the corporation largely provides a rosy picture of the situation.
The issue was raised in the review meeting of the education department on Monday, following which municipal commissioner Manish Gupta directed officials to hire an NGO that works in the field of sanitation. “We have identified an NGO. The organisation will conduct random checks in all school buildings. They will rate toilet blocks by broadly classifying them into three categories — A, B and C,” said education committee chairperson Satish Upadhayay.
“The final report prepared by the NGO will help us in identifying the exact nature of remedy required for different sets of toilet blocks, ”he added.
There are 432 school buildings in the jurisdiction of South Corporation. Officials said the three category in which the toilet blocks would be classified are: (A) toilet blocks that have no problem and are in good shape (B) toilet blocks that need small modifications, and (C) toilet blocks that need to be built afresh. Corporation officials said the NGO’s report will also help in fixing responsibility of engineering department officials, who, if at all, have been preparing false reports about the condition of toilets.
“Several parents and councillors keep complaining about the bad condition of toilet blocks in schools. But when we summon the officials concerned, they claim everything is fine. So we have decided to do a reality check by hiring an independent agency,” said Upadhayay.
“Once we have the report, we will be able to tally them with those provided by the engineering department and take action accordingly.”