KURNOOL: The lack of basic amenities in government schools of Kurnool district has become a cause of concern, especially for girl students and women staffers. Nearly 85 percent of the total 4,205 schools in the district either completely lack toilets or are unable to provide enough water in restrooms. A sizeable number of adolescent girls of the schools go out in the open to relieve themselves. The government runs 2,307 primary schools, 964 upper primary schools and 934 Zilla Parishad high schools in the district.
According to the Education Department, nearly 15,000 teachers work in the government schools and 4.7 lakh children study there. “The situation is especially problematic for us girl students,” said G Suseela of Bandi Atmakur village.Despite the government having constructed toilets and water tanks, many are unusable as its taps and doors have been pilfered.
“Politicos wax eloquent on Swachh Bharat and the importance of washing hands, but in a majority of the government schools here, children can’t wash their hands before and after their meals and have to go out to attend nature’s call. Such is the state of affairs,” said a source not wishing to be named. At least 70 percent of the schools do not have taps or water supply.
Nodal agency Velugu Department took up the responsibility of maintaining cleanliness in government schools and, last year, `5 crore was sanctioned to address the issues, but there has been little or no improvement in the conditions at schools.District Education Officer S Tahera Sultana told TNIE the Department had already constructed toilets and bathrooms in 95 percent of the schools, but some were not functioning due to extremely poor maintenance.