The Ministry of Human Resource Development observed Swachhata Pakhwada from 1st September to 15th September, 2016.
The Swachh Vidyalaya initiative to have separate toilets for boys and girls was launched by the Department of School Education and Literacy in August, 2014. In a record period of one year from 15th August, 2014 to 14th August, 2015, 4,17,796 toilets were constructed in 2,61,400 schools. Thus 100% access to provide functional toilets in all government schools across the country was achieved.
Swachhta Pakhwada was celebrated in various schools/ institutes of Government, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Navodaya Vidyalayas, NIOS, NCERT & JSS and also in the premises of the Ministry.
All Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas apart from large number of Government schools in the country celebrated Swachhta Pakhwada by taking up above activities.
Construction and maintenance of toilets is a continuous process and the basic purpose of this Initiative is to promote a behavioral change in school children with regard to sanitation practices, hand-washing, general hygiene and maintenance.
Department of School Education and Literacy has initiated Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar to recognize, inspire and celebrate excellence in Sanitation and hygiene practice in schools. These are categorized under water, sanitation, hand washing with soap, operations and maintenance, behavior changes and capacity building sub-categories. The awards will be given at district level, state and national level. The process for selection of schools for state level is in progress. By the end of November, 2016, schools for national level awards would be selected.
During this initiative, it was noticed that the role of children as “change agents” in the society can be highly useful and is centered around the belief that once school children imbibe good sanitation and hygiene practices, they could motivate their parents, family and others in the neighborhood ultimately promoting community participation to adopt good sanitation and hygiene practices, which would ultimately lead to the “Swachh Bharat’’.
