Corporates ignore call to build school toilets

India Inc has given a very cold response to the central government’s call to provide schools with separate toilets for boys and girls under corporate social responsibility.

Of the 4,17,796 toilets constructed in government schools across the country, corporates have contributed to only 0.82% of the toilets.

Only 12 corporate firms joined the government’s move to provide every government school with separate toilets for boys and girls.

According to data available with the Ministry of Human Resources Development, corporates have funded the construction of only 3,466 toilets.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) supported the construction of 1,509 toilets and Mahindra Group funded the construction of 1,171. German luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz doled out funds for the construction of only one toilet at a school in Goa.

The TCS funded the construction of a total of 1,026 toilets in Andhra Pradesh, 425 in Telangana and 58 in Bihar. Mahindra Group supported the construction of toilets in 10 states, including 536 in Bihar, 422 in Andhra Pradesh, 79 in Assam and two in Karnataka — one at a girls’ school in Aladahalli village, Chikkamagaluru district, and the other at a PU college in Aurad, Kalaburagi district.

Infosys Foundation funded the construction of 250 toilets in Odisha, Confederation of Indian Industry funded 138 in Bihar and Odisha, Microsoft India 22 in Telangana and Coca-Cola India Private Limited funded 14 toilets in four states.

Public sector units under various ministries remained the major contributors. They together funded the construction of more than 1.41 lakh toilets. The Ministry of Power funded the construction of more than 64,000 toilets, while the Ministry of Coal funded 52,388.

Of the 4,17,796 toilets constructed in schools, corporates have contributed to only 0.82% of the toilets. Mercedes Benz doled out funds for the construction of only one toilet at a school in Goa