The Centre told the Supreme Court that more than 97.5% schools in the country, which include both government, government aided and private one have provided separate toilet facilities to girl students.Centre informs the Supreme Court that the states and UTs, such as Delhi, Goa & Puducherry, have accomplished and completed the target compiled with the previous orders of court.
It has filed an affidavit in the pending PIL moved by the congress leader Jaya Thakur seeking directions to Centre and state to provide free sanitary pads to girl students from class 6th to 12th and to ensure separate toilet for them in government, government aided and residential schools.
They also told the court that 16 lakh toilets for boys and 17.5 lakh toilets for girls have been made in more than 10 lakh government schools. They also stated that 2.5 lakh toilets for boys and 2.9 toilets for girls have made in government-aided schools.
Centre stated that 99.9% schools in West Bengal provides separate toilet facilities for girl students. And 98.8% in Uttar Pradesh provides separate toilets for girl students.
“Similarly, figure is 99.7% in Tamil Nadu, 99.5% in Sikkim, Gujarat, Punjab, 99.6% in Chhattisgarh, 99.6% in Kerala, 98.7% in Karnataka, 98.6% in Madhya Pradesh, 97.8% in Maharashtra, 98 % in Rajasthan, 98.5% in Bihar and 96.1% in Odisha” it informed the court.
The northeastern states of the country lag behind in the national average which is 98%. The Centre stated that even Jammu and Kashmir provides separate toilet facilities for girls in 89.2& of schools.
Supreme Court To Centre Over National Model For Building Toilets
The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to lay down national model for building toilets commensurate with number of girl students in government aided and all residential schools in the country.
On April 10, the court appointed the secretary of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as nodal officer to coordinate with states and Union territories. And to collect necessary data for making of national policy.
Supreme Court To States Over Menstrual-Hygiene Management Strategies
The Court asked the states to submit their menstrual-hygiene management strategies and plans that are executed with help of funds allotted by Centre. The court stated that the states should indicate to the Mission Steering Group of the National Health Mission the appropriate ratio of female toilets for residential and non-residential school. Centre asked the states to indicate the steps that have been considered to provide low-cost sanitary pads in schools.
