Karnataka: Campaign launched to build toilets in govt schools

UDUPI: With a focus on personal hygiene, especially for girls studying in government Kannada medium schools in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada, the Ventana Foundation fulfilled a decade-old demand of the Government Higher Primary School, Koravadi, in Kumbashi village, by handing over a toilet complex with three toilets and a bathroom, to the school recently.
The foundation is led by Rohith Bhat,CEO, 99Games Online Private Limited. Bhat and the company's vice-president, Shilpa Bhat, studied in Kannada medium schools, and according to an estimate, since more than 50% of toilets in government schools of the state are unfit for use, they decided to work on the development of Kannada medium schools.
Headmistress of the school, Vishalakshi U, said that the old toilet complex that was built about 40 years ago, was in a dilapidated condition. "For the past eight years, we have been trying to raise funds for its repair. The children used to feel unsafe using the toilets. Through the Ventana Foundation, we have been provided with good facilities, and it has helped the 73 girls on the campus. The total strength of the school is 149," she said.
A spokesperson from the Ventana Foundation, said that the poor condition of the toilet complex at the school, caught the attention of the foundation, when they had taken up the rejuvenation of the Koyyari Lake in Kumbashi, Kundapur. The toilet complex was renovated at a cost of Rs 5.5 lakh. Shrinidhi Upadhya, a civil contractor, and an alumni, and Shridhar Puranik, a local, took the lead in the implementation of the project. The foundation has launched a series of school-based activities. The notebook requirement of an aided school in Manipal, was sponsored at a cost of Rs 1.4 lakh. They have also been distributing notebooks, schoolbags and umbrellas to various schools. The foundation has already donated 15 benches and desks for a government higher primary school in Bada Yekkar near Kateel, at a cost of Rs 2.5 lakh, recently.