ADILABAD:A majority of the government schools in Adilabad district lack toilet facilities. While 3,943 schools with a student strength of 3.84 lakh need 7,000 toilets as per the norms, as many as 2,243 toilets are awaiting nod for construction, according to official sources.
Another major worry is girl students are dropping out of schools due to lack of basic infrastructure, including toilets. There is no single toilet in as many as 626 schools and nearly 1,000 toilets are not used by the students due to non-availability of water or lack of maintenance.
“We have sent a proposal for construction of 2,243 toilets to the government. Though the government has given its approval, it has not released the funds. Once we get the funds we will take up the construction,’’ said a Rajiv Vidya Mission official. He said, “We have urged the government to increase the unit cost from Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 75,000. Mintenance charges of Rs. 5,000 per primary school and Rs. 7,000 for a high school is not enough.”
Speaking to Express, United Teachers Federation (UTF) district general secretary A Venkati said that girl students’ dropout rate is on the rise due to lack of basic infrastructure, including toilets.
“Some of the students are developing allergies and girl students facing gynaec problems as they are unable to relive themselves.
Parents are not sending them to schools fearing that they will fall sick,” he added.
Student Federation of India State committee member P Suresh demanded that the government provide toilet facilities in schools by implementing the Right to Education Act in true spirit.