Govt school headmasters to face action for unclean toilets in Bangalore

Following the high court direction on drinking water and toilet facilities at state schools, the state department of public instructions has decided to take severe action against headmasters, if any school is found lacking on above counts.

The department, in an official circular dated September 11, stated that “Officials who visit the school must ensure that the court direction on the management of drinking water and toilets issue is followed. The headmaster will be held responsible if any negligence or negative attitude is expressed by him. The department will also take disciplinary action.”

“The department is serious on this issue and it expects the teaching community to take it seriously. If any incident of neglect of the management of drinking water and toilets is found, the department will suspend the headmaster of that particular school,” said an official in-charge at Commissioner for Public Instructions office.

Recently four persons were suspended for neglecting the management of drinking water and toilet facilities at schools.

In Bangalore South, two cluster resource persons (CRP) were suspended at KR Puram area. Reacting to this, deputy director for public instructions (DDPI), Bangalore South, Padmavati said, “In our region we have given the responsibility to manage these facilities to CRPs. When the officials visited schools in KR Puram area they found that the toilets and drinking water facilities were badly managed. Following this we have suspended two CRPs.”

Similarly, in Bangalore North division also two headmasters at schools in Shivajinagar area were suspended for the same reason.

Meanwhile, by the second week of October the headmasters also need to send confirmation letters to the department regarding the condition of drinking water and toilet facilities at their schools and the measures they have taken to ensure safe drinking water and hygienic toilets. They also need to furnish photographs of the same along with the letter.

To carry out these measures the department will provide Rs3,000 to each school and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan will provide Rs5,000. However, schools that have more children will get more funds. “There are schools getting up to Rs15,000 for maintenance. That is based on the number of students studying,” said official.