423 State Schools have no Toilet ; despite procuring funds from Swach Bharat & SSA

The keenness and enthusiasm that gushed from state government of Kerala, as crores poured in from the Union exchequer in connection with Swach Bharat Abhiyan now seems to have disappeared into oblivion. Even though the Union ministry pumped in 1.27 crores, Kerala’s 423 government schools stand bereft of toilets. Along with this, 2.4 crores as sanctioned by Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, towards completion of pending repair works in schools. And with this, many unanswered questions seem to be looming large- why weren’t toilets constructed and why are authorities of state education department maintaining silence over the fate of these funds.

Recently that the state education minister issued a declaration that schools functioning without toilets will not be granted sanction to function. It was a survey conducted by Health department which exposed the sad plight of 423 schools being bereft of latrine facilities. A report released by School Education and Literacy department of the Central ministry showed 219 government schools of Kerala functioning without toilet facilities and 132 schools never availed the latrine facilities they were endowed with. It was on this basis that 1.27 crores was sanctioned for the construction of toilets in 200 schools, from the Prime Minister’s Swach Bharat Abhiyan. Along with this, SSA sanctioned 2.4 crores towards repair works as well.  An annual aid was also granted to 5111 LP schools. It is in spite of these that construction of toilet facilities stands conveniently forgotten. 

As per reports, the following are details of names of districts, number of schools and amount disbursed: 

Thiruvananthapuram: 5- 4,00,000
Kollam: 1- 80,000
Pathanamthitta: 16 – 1,42,000
Malappuram: 30 – 2,76,000
Kozhikode : 29-  2,62.000
Wayanad: 1- 80,000
Kannur: 34 – 3,26,000
Kasargode: 27 – 2,16,000