2.5k toilets at govt PU colleges don’t have water connection

Bengaluru: The problem of poor infrastructure at state-run educational institutions is not confined to the backwaters of Karnataka, given that more than 150 toilets in government PU colleges in both Bengaluru North and Bengaluru South have no water connection.

The dismal state of affairs came to light during a discussion in the Legislative Council on Monday. Citing data compiled by his department, Minister for School Education and Literacy said that, overall, 2,501 lavatories in government PU colleges were functioning without water connection. Chamarajanagar tops the list of districts with government PU colleges with dysfunctional toilets – 233 – followed by Bengaluru North (175) and Bengaluru South (173).

However, 2,601 lavatories in the state-run PU colleges are fit-for-use, while 638 need repairs, said the minister. As many as 80 toilets functioning without piped water supply are ensuring availability of water through other means.

Conceding that the state of affairs was far from desirable, Madhu assured the Council that the government would increase the funda allocated for maintenance of toilets at schools and colleges by 30%.

Legislators shared reports of teachers being suspended for having forced children to clean toilets at schools during the discussion in the Upper House.