Skip to content

Access to toilets for school children in India

​The Kemira supported water and sanitation project in Garsain in northern India improves sanitation and water infrastructure in 30 schools. The students in rural area are given information of better health and hygienic practises. Parents, teachers and government officials are also involved.

Clean water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygienic practises are a major cause of mortality in India. According to shocking statistics over 1000 children die every day due to different harmful diseases i.e. diarrhoea. Standard of hygiene is poor and majority of the people in rural areas have no access to sanitation facilities. Plan India reports that more than half of the schools in Garsain area are without toilet facilities and there is no drinking water for children in every school.

Present
The present status of sanitation facilities

Hygiene
Hygiene block construction

This co-operation project between Plan and Kemira focuses on maintaining and expanding water and sanitation facilities in target area schools. Construction of toilets benefits especially girls, as many schools do not have separate toilets for female students. At the same time small children are informed about better hygiene practises and the use of toilets.

Hygiene
Hygiene
Pictures from hygiene sessions

Behaviour change in sanitation issues is one of the huge challenges in the area. Removing of habit of bad health practises is positive also for the environment. Student Health Clubs are established in schools with students as leaders and leadership opportunities for girls are strongly promoted.

Awareness
Awareness generation workshop with children, community members and teachers

Co-operation between school management committees, teachers and officials is strengthened. Teachers work together and share techniques and every school has its own water and sanitation action plan. Students have attended workshops and different hygiene promotion campaigns in their schools and surroundings.

The purpose of the WASH-project is in the long run also to encourage more girls to attend school. One step in this is better sanitation facilities and access to own toilet facilities for schoolgirls.
 
Water is one of the most important vital conditions for life and clean water a precondition for survival. Support for projects that develop potable water supply and increase hygiene is a natural continuation to Kemira’s international work as a leading water chemistry company.
 
>> Learn more about Kemira’s cooperation with Plan
 
Story by Plan Finland
Pictures: © Plan Finland
Back to top