PANJIM: Goa, considered one of the most progressive states in the country and ranked very high in the development indicator, with a literacy rate of 87.40% still has 185 government schools without toilets. And in addition another 59 schools have toilets that do not work.
Figures by Department of School Education and Literacy of the Ministry of Human Resource Development indicate that out of 961 government schools in the State, 163 do not have toilets for boys and another 22 schools do not have girls’ toilets. Moreover, girls’ toilets in 31 schools and 28 boys, toilets are not in working condition. Thus about 20 per cent government schools do not have toilets.
In comparison, Delhi, which is another small Union Territory but has a much larger number of schools – 2,826 does not have even one school without toilets. Goa lags behind other union territories like Chandigarh, Daman & Diu, Lakshadweep and Pondicherry where development indicators and literacy rate are lower compared to Goa.
Minanath T Upadhye, State Project Director, Goa SSA told Herald that they will complete the task within the stipulated time set by the Prime Minister.
“Every year, we sanction a certain quota for girls’ toilets in schools. We will see that all government schools in Goa have toilets within one year,” he said, while saying that he will study the data released by the HRD Ministry.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called upon the parliamentarians to utilize MPLAD fund for constructing toilets in schools for a year during his maiden Independence Day speech on August 15 from the Red Fort. “…Can’t we just make arrangements for toilets for the dignity of our mothers and sisters?
MPLAD funds in the state by MPs – including one of the BJP in the last term were used to build mandaps and give computers to schools with data showing that some of the funds were even returned back.
