Sanitation for 20 Schools

This project is part of the Simavi School Sanitation Programme which consists of more than 30 school sanitation projects in 9 countries. Simavi and its partner organisations have made efforts to reduce child and maternal mortality by preventing diseases. Access to safe drinking water as well as awareness raising on sanitation and hygiene practices have been identified as key to combating this. Investing in school sanitation and hygiene education is in essence an investment in the future.

Current status

The 20 schools that will be assisted through the project currently have only one or two pit latrines per school. The girls, boys and teacher use the same latrine. No hand washing facilities are available and the pits are often almost full. This provides unhygienic situations at the schools. Many children suffer from water borne diseases. The girls have no privacy and tend to stay away from school during their menstruation. Although hygiene education is part of the official school curriculum it is not taught properly and not put into practice.

Depending on the size of the school an appropriate number of urinals, double pit latrines and hand washing facilities will be provided. At each school a student teacher committee will be formed that will be trained on hygiene promotion and sanitation and will be facilitating the sensitization process of the children, their parents and the local community. Hygiene and sanitation will be promoted through wall paintings, quizzes, inter school competitions, etc. Links with the primary health care centers will be established to ensure awareness on curative level. Garbage collection and reuse for manure will be promoted.

Improving school sanitation and hygiene education for 20 schools in West Bengal. About 20,000 people will gain knowledge on hygiene and sanitation. A new generation will grow up being accustomed to latrine use and proper hygiene behaviour.

CUS will facilitate the formation of Teacher Student Committees for each school. The role of Teacher Student Committee will be to monitoring the construction process, ensuring contribution for the maintenance fund of the latrines in each school, facilitating the sensitisation process of children, parents and local community in water and sanitation issues, ensuring regular meetings with children, facilitating the dialogue with local government and concerned government department for water connection in schools. Separate latrines for the girls and boys will be provided and through hygiene education improved hygiene is being internalised by the children in a proper way.The school will be the owner of the facilities. The student teacher committee will remain to follow up on the activities. Each child will contribute towards the actual maintenance of the latrines. A fund will be created to cater for major maintenance.