Swachh Vidyalaya Initiative: Toilets in all Government Schools

The Government of India has prioritized education of girls’ children and accordingly, launched Swachh Vidyalaya initiative across the country for construction of separate girls’ and boys’ toilets in all government schools.

The Department of School Education & Literacy supports States and UTs for construction of school infrastructure including toilets under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan (RMSA) based on Schedule of Rates (SoRs) notified by the respective State Government, to improve access to elementary and secondary schools.

With the construction of 4,17,796 toilets in 2,61,400 elementary and secondary schools within one year from 15.08.2014 to 15.08.2015 under Swachh Vidyalaya initiative, all government schools now have gender segregated toilets for girls and boys.  Data on construction of toilets have been hosted on the Ministry’s website and is in public domain.

The Schedule to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 provides for separate toilets for boys and girls in all recognized schools. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Framework provides that all new school buildings, Block Resource Centres and Cluster Resource Centres should be provided separate and adequate toilets and drinking water facilities for boys and girls according to enrollment of children.

The Framework also states that existing school buildings have to be provided toilets and drinking water in convergence with other schemes. The Department of School Education & Literacy supports States and UTs for construction of school toilets on incremental basis and as per the approved Annual Work Plan & Budget of respective State/UT. The Department of School Education & Literacy has also allowed repair/reconstruction of dysfunctional toilets in schools under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan scheme as per State SoRs.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has advised the Panchayati Raj Departments of all States to include the provision for construction of toilets in schools while utilizing funds from the Fourteenth Finance Commission devolved directly to Gram Panchayats.