‘Schoolkids need to have sense of cleanliness’

Ranchi: In order to maintain a clean environment, it is necessary to instil a sense of cleanliness among schoolchildren, said K Ravi Kumar, education secretary of Jharkhand, at the launch of an orientation workshop on Solid Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) in residential schools across the state.
During the workshop organised by the Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) in partnership with UNICEF Jharkhand, Rs 20 lakh each were provided to five schools for the SLMW project, and Rs 2.40 crore distributed among 219 residential schools across the state.
The SLWM project will begin in five Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) as part of a pilot project. After a successful implementation, it will be implemented in other residential schools of the state. There are currently a total of 316 residential schools, comprising 203 KGBV, 57 Jharkhand Balika Awasiya Vidyalaya, and 26 Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Awasiya Vidyalaya.
"The goal of the project is to improve cleanliness in school. The education department is aiming to improve school infrastructure, and schools are responsible for its upkeep through environmental stewardship," Kumar further said.
On the occasion, Kiran Pasi, director of Jharkhand Education Project Council ( JEPC), said, "Under the pilot project, UNICEF will provide technical help for waste management in schools. It will started with KGBV Kasmar in Bokaro, KGBV Sonahatu in Ranchi, KGBV Sunderpahari in Godda, KGBV Noamundi in West Singhbhum and KGBV Latehar. For the purchase of equipment, Rs 20 lakh has been allocated to each of the five schools."
Moreover, KGBV Sonahatu, KGBV Noamundi, and Tata Workers’ High School, Jamshedpur in the state were each given ₹2 lakh for getting Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar at the national level.
Kanika Mitra, UNICEF officer in Delhi, said, "If schools across the nation continue to foster a habit of cleanliness, the country will be disease-free."