Uttar Pradesh Government Issues Strict Directive for Girls' Toilet Maintenance in Schools
The Uttar Pradesh government has taken a decisive step to enhance sanitation and safety for female students by issuing a comprehensive directive to all state-run primary schools. The order mandates that girls' toilets must be fully functional, impeccably clean, and properly maintained at all times.
Photographic Evidence Required on Prerna Portal
In a move to ensure transparency and accountability, schools are now required to upload photographic evidence of the toilet conditions to the Prerna portal. This initiative comes after state-level reviews of earlier uploads uncovered significant gaps, including toilets with locked doors, inadequate lighting, and unclean seats and floors.
The Director General of School Education has issued strict instructions to all Basic Shiksha Adhikaris and Block Education Officers, emphasizing that accountability will be fixed in cases of negligence. Photographs will be regularly monitored to verify compliance.
Ensuring Actual Conditions Over Symbolic Compliance
Under the new directive, schools must first address all shortcomings before uploading fresh images. The photographs must clearly display open doors, adequate lighting, and usable facilities to present the actual condition of the toilets rather than symbolic compliance.
This initiative is aimed at ensuring dignity, hygiene, and safety for girl students, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas where sanitation remains a persistent challenge.
Prayagraj's Sanitation Infrastructure and Gaps
In Prayagraj, much of the toilet construction and renovation was carried out under Operation Kayakalp. During a recent district-level review meeting, Basic Shiksha Adhikari Anil Kumar shared updated data on sanitation facilities in the district's 2,832 council-run schools.
Toilet Coverage Statistics:
- Toilets for boys are reportedly available in 2,829 schools, accounting for 99.89% coverage.
- In Meja block, coverage is nearly complete, while two schools in Soraon block are still working to meet the target.
- For girls, officials claim that 99.93% of schools have dedicated toilets, with only one school each in Meja and Soraon yet to be covered.
Infrastructure Challenges and Future Plans
Running water supply has been ensured in almost all schools, except one each in Meja and Pratappur blocks. Tiling work in toilets is also pending in a small number of schools in Meja, Uruwa, Soraon, Pratappur, and urban areas.
A significant concern, however, remains the absence of toilets for children with special needs. As many as 284 schools in the district lack dedicated facilities for divyang students. Saidabad block is the only block claiming full coverage. Officials have indicated that these gaps will be addressed on priority to ensure inclusive sanitation for all students.
