Jammu : Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo Monday reviewed the status of availability and functionality of toilet facilities for girl students in government schools across J&K. The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works Department (PWD), Secretary, School Education Department, the Directors of School Education, Chief Engineers, and other senior officers concerned.
During the meeting Chief Secretary thorough evaluated the construction and operational status of toilets in schools, emphasizing that infrastructure alone is inadequate without ensuring full functionality, including reliable water supply and related utilities. He mandated that all ongoing construction and upgrades of girls’ toilets be completed by February 15, urging the School Education Department to operationalize existing facilities ahead of this deadline. To facilitate effective implementation, the Chief Secretary established zone-level committees comprising officials from the School Education and Roads & Buildings Departments. These committees are tasked with conducting joint inspections of schools to identify deficiencies, assess repair needs, and oversee the execution of necessary improvements to ensure that sanitation facilities are fully operational. The Chief Secretary highlighted the importance of clean and functional sanitation facilities in fostering a safe and inclusive learning environment for girls. He called for enhanced inter-departmental coordination and ongoing monitoring to guarantee timely completion and maintenance of these facilities. During the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary Anil Kumar Singh assured that the Public Works Department is committed to completing all assigned tasks within the set timeframe. In cases where traditional construction methods are impractical, prefabricated toilet structures will be utilized to ensure timely availability. Secretary of the School Education Department, Ram Niwas Sharma, reported that out of 18,724 government schools in the Union Territory, 18,023 (99.25%) have toilet facilities, with 17,403 (92.29%) providing separate toilets for girls. Currently, 265 girls’ toilets are under construction, and plans are in place to address the remaining 1,056 schools lacking separate facilities in a timely manner, with completion targeted before the winter academic session and by February 15 for summer-zone schools.
