As part of the Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya Campaign, the Union HRD Minister Smt. Smriti Irani addressed the Conference on the use of Corporate Social Responsibility funds for construction of toilets in schools, in New Delhi today. Laying emphasis on the role of children as the future change agents in society, the Minister stated that it is imperative that schools provide a healthy, clean environment to children, including functional toilets to every child. It is only then that the Prime Minister's Mission of a Clean India by 2019 can be achieved. Reiterating the Government's resolve to provide toilets in every school with a separate toilet for girls within one year, she invited the corporate sector to contribute towards this national mission by constructing toilets and also maintaining them for some time.
The Conference was attended by Corporate Heads from all over India. Shri R. C. Bhargava, Chairman, Maruti Suzuki, Mrs. Sudha Murti, Chairperson, Infosys Foundation, Dr. Raghupati Singhania, Chairperson, J&K Tyres and Chairperson CII, CSR initiative and other Heads of private sector corporations attended the Conference. The Chairman, NTPC and senior officials from other public sector corporations and members of industry associations also participated in this Conference. The Conference opened with a short three minute film on difficulties faced by the female students in schools without a toilet.
While the Chairman, NTPC made a commitment to construct 24,000 toilets, Mrs. Sudha Murthy blocked 109 schools in Bhubaneswar on the website of the Ministry. The list was thrown open to the private sector to book the schools of their interest. The conference saw TCS, Toyota Kirloskar, Bharti Foundation and Ambuja Cements committing to construction of toilets. Both the public sector and private sector corporations have collectively committed to constructing one lakh toilets.
It may be recalled that the Prime Minister, addressing the Nation on 15th August, had announced that "all schools in the country should have toilets with separate toilets for girls and that this target should be completed within one year".
Following are the highlights of the Swachh Bharat and Swachh Vidyalya Campaigns:
"¢ Individuals/corporate/institutions who are interested in building toilet blocks will be allocated the schools of their choice.
"¢ The government welcomes private or public sector companies to take up construction of toilet blocks on their own.
"¢ The Ministry of Human Resource Development will advise the concerned State/UT Governments to facilitate construction of toilets in schools allocated to individuals/corporate/institutions.
"¢ The Ministry of Human Resource Development/State Developments will provide the design and the specifications of the toilets.
"¢ The cost of construction would depend on State Schedule of Rates.
"¢ The Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, will maintain a centralized online data base on construction of toilets in schools.
"¢ Those who are not interested in building the toilets themselves but are keen to donate towards this noble cause, can send their contribution to the Swachch Bharat Kosh.
"¢ The funds from Swachch Bharat Kosh will be utilized for the larger Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, in addition to building school toilets.