An overview of status of drinking water and

sanitation in schools in India

unite for children
Maharashtra
Karnataka
Tamil Nadu
Andhra Pradesh
Rajasthan
Gujarat
Uttar Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Jharkhand
Orissa
Chhattisgarh
Bihar
Assam
West
Bengal
Punjab
Haryana
Kerala
Uttarakhand
Jammu & Kashmir
Himachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Sikkim
Meghalaya
Tripura
Mizoram
Manipur
Nagaland
Goa
Andaman &
Nicobar Islands
Lakshadweep
40 per cent of the global population some 2.65 billion people live without access to proper toilet facilities, and 883 million dont have access to
safe water. More than 4,000 children under age five die from diarrhoea every day. This is a global crisis, and WASH in Schools can help. WASH in and
through schools is one of the best routes to reach entire communities. Direct engagement with students can lead to community adoption of good
WASH behaviors and technologies as well as improved health. Because children are agents of change, education for good hygiene practices in
schools links students, families and communities.
44%
42%
39%
36%
23%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Handwashing Hygiene Water Quality Sanitation Water Supply
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
a
g
e

r
e
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

i
n

m
o
r
b
i
d
i
t
y

f
r
o
m

d
i
a
r
r
h
o
e
a
l

d
i
s
e
a
s
e
s

WASH interventions critical for child survival
Findings from statistical data analyzed by Cairncross (2008) reveal that improved water supply & sanitation
can contribute to 23% and 36% decreased morbidity due to diarrhoea. Moreover, finding from the meta-
analysis by Fewtrell & Colford using handwashing and hygiene promotion data reveal that handwashing &
hygiene promotion alone contribute to 44% and 42% reduction in morbidity due to diarrhoea, implying that
handwashing at critical times can prove vital. Source: Meta-analysis by Fewtrell and Colford, 2004; Hand
washing data by Curtis & Cairncross, 2003; Updated sanitation data by Cairncross, 2008
Access to sufficient quantities of safe water for
Drinking
Handwashing, cooking and personal hygiene
Sufficient water for
Cleaning
flushing toilets, school farms etc. when appropriate.
Toilet facilities that are
Sufficient, adequate and Child friendly, gender specific, culturally appropriate,
separate and well maintained toilet facilities for boys and girls.
Personal hygiene materials
Water, soap, sanitary pads etc.
Safe disposal of solid and liquid waste
Hygiene education
Curriculum, wall paintings, competitions, child cabinets etc.
Control measures to reduce transmission and morbidity of WASH related illnesses.
Approach to control vector borne disease
De-worming campaigns, nutritional supplements
46
47
0
20
40
60
80
100
2008 2009
Percentage of schools with drinking water
facilities 34 countries
37
42
38
43
0
20
40
60
80
100
2008 2009
Percentage of schools with sanitation facilities 28
countries
Girls Boys
What is WASH in Schools?
Global WASH-in-Schools scenario
Source: Data from UNICEF Country Office Annual Reports 2008 & 2009. Water data from 34 countries, Sanitation data from 28 countries.
Drinking water and sanitation facilities in schools still remain a challenge in most countries
Childrens health improves with WASH in Schools
Schools with quality WASH programmes can effectively reduce the transmission of
diseases. More than 40 per cent of diarrhoea cases in schoolchildren result from
transmission in schools rather than homes
Education and health are inseparable. Nutrition deficiencies, diarrhoea and worm
infestations are all related to poor WASH and all affect school participation and
learning. WASH in Schools is a first step towards ensuring a healthy physical
learning environment. Schools with quality WASH programmes can effectively
increase attendance and learning outcomes
WASH in Schools increases attendance and cognitive development
Students are agents of change in their communities
Globally, around 2.65 billion people live without access to proper toilet facilities,
and 883 million dont have access to safe water. WASH in Schools can help
mitigate the risks and overcome the challenges. Children are generally more
receptive to new ideas and can more easily change their behaviour and promote
improved practices within their families and among their communities
WASH in Schools fosters social inclusion and individual self-respect by offering an
alternative to stigma and marginalization. Girls in developing countries, for
example, often report that issues related to managing menstrual hygiene cause
them to be absent from school, frequently a first step towards dropping out
altogether.
WASH in Schools promotes gender equality
Improving WASH in Schools is achievable
Every school can be equipped with quality WASH programmes. Students, teachers,
communities, local and national governments, civil society and private companies
all need to work together. Media and public opinion around the world can
influence political leaders to act now
Impressive coverage of drinking water facilities in schools from 2005-06 to 2009-10
Separate toilets for girls need to become a priority
Number of schools having drinking water facility has
increased from nearly 0.9 million (~83%) in 2005-06 to
1.30 million (93%) in 2010-11.
Drinking water facilities in rural schools increased from
nearly 0.7 million schools (82%) in 2005-06 to nearly 0.85
million schools (93%) in 2009-10.*
In all, 181 million children in schools have access to
drinking water facilities.*
[Source: DISE, NUEPA, New Delhi]
Number of schools having toilet facility has increased
from 0.6 million (~52%) in 2005-06 to ~1.14 million
(84%) in 2010-11.
In rural schools, toilet facility increased from 0.4
million schools (49%) in 2005-06 to 0.7 million schools
(79%) in 2009-10, where they have at least one toilet
facility.*
In all, more than 160 million children in schools have
access to toilet facilities.*
Number of schools having separate toilet facility for
girls increased from ~0.4 million (~37%) in 2005-06 to
~0.8 million (~60%) in 2009-10.*
However over 0.5 million (~40%) schools do not have
this facility.*
[Source: DISE, NUEPA, New Delhi]
Water and sanitation facilities in schools in India
Urban schools face similar challenges of drinking
water & toilet facilities
The situation in urban schools is also similar to those in rural
areas. [Source: DISE 2009-10, NUEPA, New Delhi]
93
79
97
89
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
drinking water facility toilet facility
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
a
g
e

o
f

s
c
h
o
o
l
s

Rural Urban
Total Sanitation Campaign accelerated provision of toilets in rural
government schools
The Total Sanitation Campaign supports the School Sanitation & Hygiene
Education programme. Launched in the year 2004-05, nearly 1.22 million toilets
have been constructed in rural government schools under the program. [Source:
http://tsc.gov.in, Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Government of India
* Calculated on basis of DISE disaggregated data (2009-10). To be updated for 2010-11, when disaggregated data 2010-11 is available.
83
85
87
88
93 93
70
75
80
85
90
95
0
200,000
400,000
600,000
800,000
1,000,000
1,200,000
1,400,000
2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011
Total no. of schools - 13,62,324
No. of schools with drinking water facility Perentage of schools with drinking water facility
52
58
63
67
80
84
37
43
51
54
60
60
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
800,000
900,000
1,000,000
1,100,000
2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-2011
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
a
g
e

C
o
v
e
r
a
g
e

Total no. of schools - 13,62,324
Total no. of girls & Co-ed schools - 13,42,843
No. of schools with toilets No. of schools with separate girls' toilets
%age of schools with toilets %age of schools with separate girls' toilet
0
200,000
400,000
600,000
800,000
1,000,000
1,200,000
1,400,000
2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012
230,926
362,468
598,727
851,731
996,211
1,101,720
1,224,191
Cumulative number of of toilets constructed under Total
Sanitation Campaign
The functionality disparity
One in ten rural schools are without toilet facilities. Where toilets
exist, only one in two is usable.
[Source: Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2010
Independent assessment of WASH facilities in schools show a similar trend in functionality
Functionality of water and toilet facilities continues to remain as a major gap to be plugged
Though 93% schools have drinking water facility, only 82 %
schools have improved drinking water facility, while it is
functional in only 79% schools (as against availability).
Functional drinking water facility is less than 60% in
Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur.
Only Six out of 10 schools have functioning toilet facilities.
Out of the ~2.7 million toilets, over 2 million (~76%) are
functional.
In 3 states ( AP, Nagaland and Meghalaya) less than 50% of
the toilets are functional.
[Source: DISE 2009-10, NUEPA, New Delhi]
March 2012
State-wise functionality of drinking water facilities in
schools*
State-wise functionality of toilets in schools*
Functionality of drinking water in schools is below the national average in 8 states (Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar,
Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura.
Functionality of toilet facility in schools is less than the national average in 13 states, which implies that a lot has to
be done in ensuring safe sanitation to children in schools.
[Source: DISE 2009-10, NUEPA, New Delhi]
Rajasthan 80.5
Tripura 66.2
Mizoram 69.2
Manipur 56.9
Nagaland 38.6
Arunachal Pradesh 53.3
Sikkim 81.1
Jammu & Kashmir 62.9
Uttar Pradesh 82.5
West Bengal 81.7
Delhi 97.9
Haryana 86.8
Uttarakhand 69.3
Chandigarh 99.4
Punjab 96.0
Himachal Pradesh 90.7
Bihar 67.2
Dadra & Nagar Haveli 92.3
Puducherry 98.7
Tamil Nadu 91.7
Kerala 92.6
Lakshadweep 97.7
Goa 88.8
Karnataka 88.2
Meghalaya 46.7
Maharashtra 85.5
Assam 77.6
Daman & Diu 97.2
Gujarat 85.1
Madhya Pradesh 79.6
Chhattisgarh 76.2
Orissa 74.8
Jharkhand 69.4
Andaman & Nicobar Islands 96.9
Andhra Pradesh 64.6
Below 70%
70 - 80%
Above 80%
National average - 79%
Rajasthan
85.8
Tripura
67.6
Mizoram
89.2
Manipur
85.4
Nagaland
32.3
Arunachal Pradesh
60.7
Sikkim
91.6
Jammu & Kashmir
69.8
Uttar Pradesh
77.8
West Bengal
82.8
Delhi
96.2
Haryana
88.1
Uttarakhand
78.5
Chandigarh
96.4 Punjab
95.2
Himachal Pradesh
75.3
Bihar
52.5
D&N Haveli
92.4
Puducherry
93.1
Tamil Nadu
93.0
Kerala
89.2
Lakshadweep
93.6
Goa
83.9
Karnataka
61.3
Meghalaya
45.7
Maharashtra
93.5
Assam
73.7
Daman & Diu
84.0
Gujarat
86.5
Madhya Pradesh
82.8
Chhattisgarh
68.3
Orissa
57.2
Jharkhand
51.7
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
100.0
Andhra Pradesh
31.0
Below 75%
75 - 90%
above 90%
National average - 76%
* Calculated on basis of DISE disaggregated data (2009-10). To be updated for 2010-11, when disaggregated data 2010-11 is available.
0
50
100
Drinking water Sanitation
93
80
76
61
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
a
g
e

o
f

s
c
h
o
o
l
s

Coverage Functional
77
84
90
90
56
75
56
51
50
60
70
80
90
100
2005 2007 2009 2010
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
a
g
e

o
f

s
c
h
o
o
l
s

Facility Vs Functionality
Percentage of schools with drinking water facility Percentage of schools with functional drinking water facility
WASH in Schools progress- Acceleration required
Percentage of children (by enrolment) without
access to drinking water facility*
Percentage of children (by enrolment) without
access to toilet facility*
Although the availability of drinking water stands at 93% in schools across India, yet a total 6.50 million children (3.46 % children of total enrolment) do not
have access to drinking water facility in schools.,
13 states (Meghalaya, Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram, Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Orissa, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Manipur and
Andhra Pradesh) account for more than 3.39 million children without access to drinking water facility in schools.
A total of 27.6 million children (14.1 million boys and 13.5 million girls) accounting for 14.7% of total children enrolled do not have access to toilet facility in
schools.
7 states (Orissa, Meghalaya, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Assam and Bihar) account for almost 50% (13.8 million) children without access to toilet facilities in
schools.
[Source: DISE 2009-10, NUEPA, New Delhi]
Improving access to toilets in 6 states (UP, MP, Bihar, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Assam would reduce the gap by 50%.
Similarly, improving the access to girls toilets in 7 states (Chhattisgarh, J&K, Bihar, Meghalaya, Orissa, Assam, Manipur and
MP) would reduce the gap by 50%.
[Source: DISE 2010-11, NUEPA, New Delhi]
Toilets in all schools and separate toilets for girls is still a long way to go..
More than 14%
5 - 14%
Less than 5%
All India - 14%
More than 3.5%
1.5 - 3.5 %
Less than 1.5%
All India - 3.5%
* Calculated on basis of DISE disaggregated data (2009-10). To be updated for 2010-11, when disaggregated data 2010-11 is available.
0
20
40
60
80
100
D
e
l
h
i
P
u
n
j
a
b
S
i
k
k
i
m
C
h
a
n
d
i
g
a
r
h
D
a
m
a
n

&

D
i
u
G
u
j
a
r
a
t
P
u
d
u
c
h
e
r
r
y
H
a
r
y
a
n
a
K
a
r
n
a
t
a
k
a
K
e
r
a
l
a
T
a
m
i
l

N
a
d
u
M
a
h
a
r
a
s
h
t
r
a
R
a
j
a
s
t
h
a
n
N
a
g
a
l
a
n
d
U
t
t
a
r
a
k
h
a
n
d
W
e
s
t

B
e
n
g
a
l
G
o
a
M
i
z
o
r
a
m
U
t
t
a
r

P
r
a
d
e
s
h
L
a
k
s
h
a
d
w
e
e
p
H
i
m
a
c
h
a
l

P
r
a
d
e
s
h
A
l
l

I
n
d
i
a
A

&

N

I
s
l
a
n
d
s
A
n
d
h
r
a

P
r
a
d
e
s
h
O
r
i
s
s
a
T
r
i
p
u
r
a
M
a
d
h
y
a

P
r
a
d
e
s
h
J
h
a
r
k
h
a
n
d
D

&

N

H
a
v
e
l
i
A
s
s
a
m
B
i
h
a
r
C
h
h
a
t
t
i
s
g
a
r
h
M
a
n
i
p
u
r
0 0 0
2 2 2 2 3
5 5 5
7 7
9 9 9 10 10 10
13
16 16 17
19 20 20
24
27
30
32
34
40 40
23
11
35
31
28
38
11
18
37
33
38 39
12
36
53
56
40
42
24
52
40
48
35
50
73
79
69
45
63
64
70 70
91
Percentage of schools without toilets
Percentage of schools without toilets Percentage of schools without girls' toilets
Hygiene practices - key to child survival & development
Policy environment for WASH in schools in India
Constitution
Article 21-A free and compulsory education of all children in the age group of six to fourteen years as a Fundamental Right
Legislation
Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009
RTE necessitates ensuring drinking water and sanitation facilities at school level
Supreme Courts sets deadline for all states to ensure water and sanitation facility by November 2011.
Policy Implementation
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) for universalizing elementary education
School Sanitation and Hygiene Education (SSHE) component of Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC)
Nirmal Gram Puraskar (Clean Village Award) mandates functional toilets in all Government, Government aided and private
schools and all Co - ed Upper Primary schools to have separate toilets for boys and girls.
NGP incentive amount can be used for creation of additional sanitation facilities in schools & anganwadis and construction of
incinerators in girls schools.
Findings of an assessment conducted in 540 schools in nine states in India on Mid Day Meal (MDM) program reveal that:
Nearly half (51%) of the schools have a designated hand washing space and in 44% of the schools observed the hand washing
space was being used.
Only close to one in ten (12%) of schools had soap/detergent available at the hand washing space.
Nearly half (49%) of the students washed their hands using only water. Only two out of five (42%) students use
soap/detergent.
[Source: Hygiene Practices in schools during Mid-Day Meals, UNICEF-India study 2009 unpublished]
Handwashing with soap before Mid Day Meal still remain a challenge.
51
49
Percentage of schools with designated
Handwashing space
Schools with designated handwashing space
Schools without designated handwashing space
12
88
Percentage of schools with soap/detergent
for handwashing
Yes
No
49
42
Material used for handwashing before MDM
Water Soap/ detergent