Department of Drinking Water Supply

Minutes of the meeting held on 23.4.2003 at 10.00 AM in the chamber of Secretary,
Department of Elementary Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development,
Government of India, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi.

As a sequel to the suggestion made by Secretary, Department of Drinking Water Supply, a meeting was held in the chamber of Secretary, Department of Elementary Education and Literacy on 23.4.2003 at 10.00 AM to discuss matters relating to provision of drinking water and sanitation facilities in schools. The meeting was attended by Secretary, Department of Elementary Education and Literacy and Secretary, Department of Drinking Water Supply along with officers of the two Departments. List of participants is at Annex - I.

2. Secretary, Elementary Education and Literacy welcomed the participants and stated that extending the facility of drinking water and sanitation in schools is one of the prime concerns and he complimented the Secretary, Department of Drinking Water Supply for taking the initiative in this regard. He stated that the initiative under District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) and Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) a large number of primary and upper primary schools have been covered with basic infrastructural facilities including drinking water and sanitation. In 221 DPEP districts of 18 States, there are 399368 schools out of which 303738 have drinking water facility and 125759 have toilet facilities. 95630 schools are without drinking water facility 273609 schools are without toilets in the 221 DPEP districts. Taking into account the schools already covered under DPEP and SSA, it is estimated that there will be backlog of about 2.5 lakh primary schools not covered under any special programmes and 2.5 lakh upper primary schools which do not get covered under DPEP. This does not include information on the non-DPEP districts. Details of these figures will be available after 2 months. In all, it is estimated that 3.45 lakh primary and upper primary schools will be without drinking water facilities and 5.73 lakh primary and upper primary schools will be without toilet facilities. New schools constructed have to have these facilities. Secretary(Elementary Education Literacy) added that the Department of Elementary Education & Literacy propose to cover 1.20 lakh schools with drinking water supply and 2.20 lakh schools with toilets during the remaining 4 years of the 10th Plan. This would leave 2.25 lakh schools to be provided with drinking water supply and 3.53 lakh schools to be provided with toilets. The position as emerged is as given below:-

Status of not covered Primary and Upper Primary Schools with drinking water and sanitation

3. Secretary, Department of Drinking Water Supply mentioned that Department of Drinking Water Supply gives lot of importance to coverage of schools and it should be possible to clear the entire backlog of 2.25 lakh schools with drinking water facility and 3.53 lakh with toilet facilities under ARWSP and TSC programmes respectively. He also mentioned about the schemes being implemented as per the announcement made by the Prime Minister on 15.8.2002 for coverage of 1 lakh schools with drinking water facility. Secretary(DWS) also highlighted the importance for coordinating the efforts of the Department of Elementary Education and Literacy and that of the Department of Drinking Water Supply so that definite action plans can be drawn up at the State/ district level to provide drinking water and sanitation to all the uncovered schools within a definite time frame. He stated that the officers of the two Departments may sit together and work out the strategy based on which the State Governments will prepare action plans with definite milestones. He also stated that the implementation will be monitored through review meetings which will be attended by representatives from education sector as well so that the efforts made will be coordinated not only at the policy level but even at the State / district level.

4. Secretary (EE&L) mentioned that under the grant given under DPEP/SSA, the components for civil works restricts the funds to be apportioned for facilities like drinking water and toilets etc. The States would, therefore, be asked to take up difficult/high cost proposals under the rural water supply schemes and TSC. Secretary (DWS) agreed with the suggestion and stated that apart from the ARWSP, schools coverage can also be taken up under Sector Reform and Swajaldhara projects. He also mentioned that TSC will progressively cover all the districts.

5. A suggestion was also made that while computing the cost for the construction of toilets/water supply schemes, uniformly can be thought of even if they are local specific under the programmes of Department of Drinking Water Supply and the Department of Elementary Education & Literacy.

6. Toilet in schools should have facilities for disabled children in the design to be set up under the TSC.

7. Implementation of coverage of schools will be monitored and quarterly meetings will be held at the level of the Joint Secretaries concerned in the Departments of Elementary Education & Literacy and Drinking Water Supply. Such meetings at Secretaries level will be held half yearly.

8. Regarding operation and maintenance (O&M) of water supply and sanitation systems in schools. Department of Elementary Education & Literacy provides assistance to the tune of Rs. 5000 per annum under SSA. Secretary (DWS) mentioned that the PTA/communities should be encouraged to take up the responsibility for O&M of water supply and sanitation in the schools.

9. Incorporation of necessary materials in the curriculum on water, sanitation and hygiene were accepted as important intervention. It was agreed that necessary framework for incorporating the same in the curriculum will be given to the Department of Elementary Education & Literacy.

10. It was also accepted that the Teacher's Training Programme should have necessary component on school sanitation and hygiene so that teachers are equipped to impart necessary education to the children. Secretary(DWS) suggested that under TSC the possibility of giving some honorarium or incentive to teachers who will be imparting educational training on school hygiene to children will be considered.

11. A mention was made of the initiative taken by UNICEF along with IRC and Department of Drinking Water Supply through the SWASTHH programme and a Manual has been prepared on school hygiene and sanitation. It was suggested that the Manual will be discussed and processed for adoption in all schools.

12. The topic of Hygiene and Sanitation may be included in the curricula for the Teacher's Training, undertaken by the Department of Elementary Education and Literacy.

13. A meeting of External Support Agencies be convened both by the Departments of Elementary Education and Literacy and Drinking Water Supply to discuss the role these organizations can play in promoting school sanitation and hygiene in the coming years.

14. It was also decided that Departments of Elementary Education & Literacy and Drinking Water Supply would together observe one day during 2003 as 'Sanitation Day' with schools as the focus, in the entire country. All State Governments may be sensitised on this. Publicity may also be given through posters and audio/audio-visual media on school sanitation and hygiene and an observance of the 'Sanitation Day'. Literary competitions on Hygiene and Sanitation among students may also be organized on that day with award of suitable prizes.

1. Shri S. C. Tripathi, Secretary, Department of Elementary Education & Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development.
2. Shri Palat Mohandas, Secretary, Department of Drinking Water Supply, Ministry of Rural Development.
3. Shri Sumit Bose, Joint Secretary, Department of Elementary Education & Literacy.
4. Dr. Ramesh Chandra Panda, Joint Secretary(TM), Department of Drinking Water Supply.
5. Smt. P. V. Valsala G. Kutty, Director, Department of Drinking Water Supply. Shri Sunil Kumar, Director, Department of Drinking Water Supply.
6. Smt. Shalini Prasad, Director, Department of Elementary Education & Literacy.
7. Shri Kumar Alok, Deputy Secretary, Department of Drinking Water Supply.
8. Shri Sourab Banerjee, Consultant, Department of Elementary Education & Literacy.