New Delhi: Industry body CII will work with companies to help mobilise construction of 10,000 toilets in schools across the country by FY 2015-16.
The Mission - Sanitation of Schools (SoS) is aimed at strengthening Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet project -- a nationwide Swachh Bharat campaign.
Modi has given a call for 'Swachh Bharat' as a mass movement to realise Mahatma Gandhi's dream of a clean India by 2019, when the country will celebrate 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation.
"With greater emphasis on structured corporate social responsibility (CSR) from this year, companies are keen to increase their engagement through specific projects and we expect industry to wholeheartedly support and participate in the 'Swachh Bharat' initiative," said Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Chairman of CII National Council on CSR at the SoS Mission launch here.
CII will mobilise construction of 10,000 toilets in the First Phase by the end of fiscal year 2015-2016.
Based on the feedback received and assessments on ground, in the next 6 months, CII will announce targets for the second phase.
"CII will work with industry and the Government to make Swachh Bharat a reality. We have set up a mechanism to create awareness and encourage industry participation through our network of 64 offices in India, spread across 26 states and 2 Union Territories," CII President Designate Sumit Mazumder said.
Currently, it is estimated, that per unit cost of construction (toilet block for girl + toilet block for boys) will range from Rs 2-5 lakhs, depending on availability of water, sewerage, etc.
According to recent UN statistics, half of India's population does not have access to toilets, with the condition even more dismal in rural areas where around 60 per cent of the population still defecates in the open. Poor and inadequate sanitation accounts for various health-related issues causing economic and social losses.
It is estimated that 1.01 lakh Government schools do not have toilets for girls, 1.52 lakh schools do not have toilets for boys and a 1.64 lakh schools have dysfunctional toilets.
Poor sanitation facilities lead to drop out from schools, especially among girls in the 5-14 age bracket. Retention of the girl child has increased by 30 per cent in schools with access to proper sanitation facilities.
