School Sanitation Programme Put on War Footing in Odisha
School sanitation programme has been put on war footing with Chief Secretary Sri Gokul Chandra Pati taking a video conference with the Collectors yesterday from the secretariat conference hall. Reviewing the district wise progress, Chief Secretary has directed the Collectors to complete the construction of new toilets and operationalize all old toilets by 31st July. Collectors have also been asked to set up low cost functional toilets in remote and difficult areas pending construction of permanent toilets. Secretary School & Mass Education Smt Ranjana Chopra, joining the Chief Secretary in the video conference clarified that the services of District Education Officers, Block Education Officers, and other officers of School & Mass education department can be utilized for coordination, supervision and monitoring of the works. Collectors have also been asked to involve school management committees actively in this work. Chief Secretary has directed OPEPA to issue clear cut guidelines for operation and maintenance of toilets.
Available data show that as per the survey, estimate has been made to construct and renovate a total number of 44002 toilets in schools. Out of this 13,049 are programmed to be constructed through OPEPA and 30,953 toilets are to be constructed through PSUs. Around 20 central PSUs have agreed to construct these toilets. As of now, OPEPA has completed 6436 toilets and balance 3313 is in advanced stage of completion. The PSUs have completed 5690 numbers. Collectors have been asked to take up the toilets which were allotted to PSUs but not started; and, complete those on war footing with construction of low cost functional toilets by 31st July, 2015. Secretary Smt. Chopra said that a standard design for construction of such low cost functional toilets has been sent to all districts and the funds for the purpose will be provided through OPEPA.