Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy on Tuesday announced ₹1 lakh award for the Government Primary School, Kunichampet, in appreciation of the school bagging the top rank at the national-level in implementation of the Swachh Vidyalaya initiative.
The Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya initiative was launched in 2014 by the Union Government to ensure that all schools in India provide access to separate toilets for boys and girls.
During his visit to the school along with A. Anbarasu, Education Secretary, and senior officials of the department, Mr. Narayanasamy placed on record the excellent maintenance of the premises and the proper upkeep of the toilets in the school.
The Union Government had selected 52 schools across the country for the honour. This included seven schools in Puducherry and Karaikal regions.
Union Minister of Human Resource Development Prakash Javedhkar will hand over ₹50,000 in cash and a certificate to the headmistress and a student ambassador of the school at a function to be held in Delhi on September 18.
The school had emerged a role model for other schools in the Union Territory, he said. The Government Primary School, Kunichampet, topped the list with 100 per cent marks. The Government Primary School, Sendanatham, achieved 98.9 per cent and was ranked 3rd. The other schools that gained entry were Amalorpavam Higher Secondary School, Government Primary School, Ecole Anglaise, Sri Sampourna Vidyalaya Day Boarding Residential School, Government Primary School, Agalangannu (Karaikal) and Government Primary School, Kottucherry (Karaikal).
Director of Education L. Kumar said that the Government had sent a list of 20 schools across the Union Territory for the Swachh Vidyalaya award.
721 schools competed
As many as 721 schools competed and 52 were shortlisted by the Centre for the award.
The Department of School Education nominated the 20 schools based on the number of toilets constructed, provision of running water and maintenance of hygiene, supply of drinking water, greenery and wash programmes. A team from the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) made a surprise visit and selected the school for the award, he said.