WiS Snapshot

An Overview of the Status of
Drinking Water and Sanitation
in Schools in India
Global WASH in Schools scenario
What is WASH in Schools?
Schools with quality WASH programmes
can effectively reduce the transmission
of diseases. More than 40 per cent of
Children’s
diarrhoea cases in school children
health
improves with result from transmission in schools
WASH in
rather than homes.
Access to sufficient quantities of water for
 Drinking
 Handwashing, cooking and personal hygiene
 Cleaning
 Flushing toilets, school gardens where appropriate
Toilet facilities that are
 Sufficient, adequate and child-friendly, gender specific, culturally
appropriate, well maintained and separate for boys and girls
Handwashing facilities which:
 Allow all children to wash hands before school meals,
preferably in groups
Personal hygiene materials
Water, soap, sanitary pads etc.
 Safe disposal of solid and liquid waste

Hygiene education
 Curriculum, wall paintings, competitions, child cabinets etc.
 Dedicated time in a daily schedule of every school for hand washing
Control measures to reduce transmission and morbidity of WASH
related illnesses
 Approach to control vector borne disease
 De-worming campaigns, nutritional supplements
WASH interventions critical for child survival
Percentage Reduction in Morbidity from Diarrhoeal Diseases
50
44
45
42
39
Percentage
40
36
35
30
23
25
20
15
10
5
0
Handwashing
Hygiene
Water Quality
Sanitation
Water Supply
Findings from statistical data analyzed by Cairncross (2008) reveal
that improved water supply and sanitation can contribute to
23 per cent and 36 per cent decreased morbidity due to diarrhoea.
Moreover, finding from the meta-analysis by Fewtrell and Colford
using handwashing and hygiene promotion data reveal that
handwashing and hygiene promotion alone contribute to
44 per cent and 42 per cent reduction in morbidity due to diarrhoea,
implying that handwashing at critical times can prove vital.
Source: Meta-analysis by Fewtrell and Colford, 2004; Hand washing data by Curtis & Cairncross,
2003; Updated sanitation data by Cairncross, 2008
Sanitation facilities in schools still remain
a challenge in less developed countries
Percentage
School Sanitation Coverage, Global, Average
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
35
2008
68
67
64
59
44
41
2009
2010
Year
68
45
2011
50
2012
All UNICEF Countries
LDC & OLIC
LDC Less Developed
Countries
OLIC Other Low-Income
Countries
Schools
Education and health are inseparable.
Nutrition deficiencies, diarrhoea and
worm infestations are all related to
poor WASH – and all affect school
WASH in
participation and learning. WASH in
Schools
Schools is a first step towards
increases
ensuring
a
healthy
physical
attendance and
learning environment. Schools with
cognitive
development
quality WASH programmes can
effectively increase attendance and
learning outcomes.
Globally, around 2.65 billion people live
without access to proper toilet facilities,
and 883 million do not have access to
Students
safe water. WASH in Schools can
are agents
help mitigate the risks and
of change
overcome the challenges. Children
in their
communities are generally more receptive to new
ideas and can more easily change
their behaviour and promote improved
practices within their families and among their
communities.
More than 4,000 children under age five die from
diarrhoea every day. This is a global crisis, and
WASH in Schools can help. WASH in hand through
schools is one of the best routes to reach entire
communities. Direct engagement with students can
lead to community adoption of good WASH
behaviors and technologies as well as improved
health. Because children are agents of change,
education for good hygiene practices in schools links
students, families and communities.
Source: UNICEF WASH Report 2012.
WASH in Schools fosters social inclusion
and individual self-respect by offering
an
alternative
to
stigma
and
marginalization.
Girls
in
developing
WASH in
countries, for example, often report
Schools
that issues related to managing
promotes
gender
menstrual hygiene cause them to be
equality
absent from school, frequently a first
step towards dropping out altogether.
Every school can be equipped with quality
WASH programmes. Students, teachers,
communities, local and national
governments, civil society and
Improving
private companies all need to work
WASH in
together. Media and public opinion
Schools is
around the world can influence
achievable
political leaders to act now.
Water and sanitation facilities in schools in India
Good coverage of drinking water facilities in schools from 2005-06 to 2012-13
1085033
1400000
1200000
1000000
1015801
1219574
1128299
935356
93
800000
600000
400000
1263008
83
85
87
93
1333793
1358263

95
90
95
94
85
88

80
75
200000
0
100
Percentage
Number of Schools
1600000
2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Number of schools having drinking water
facility has increased from nearly 0.9 (83%)
in 2005-06 to 1.36 million (95%) in 2012-13.
193 million children in schools have access to
drinking water facilities, however 5 million
(5%) children still do not have access to this
facility in the year 2012-13.
70
Number of schools having drinking water facility
% of schools having drinking water facility
Source: DISE, NUEPA, New Delhi
Separate toilets for girls need to become a priority

In all, more than 89 million girls in
schools have access to toilet facilities but
7 million (7%) girls still lack access to
separate toilets.
About 23 million (22%) boys still lack
access to separate boy’s toilet facilities.
88
90
1200000
72
1000000
800000
37
400000
70
1005176
764177
821481
50
689100
40
30
509485
420444
20
200000
10
2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
0
Number of schools having separate toilet for girls
% of schools having separate toilet for girls
Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan accelerated provision
of toilets in rural government schools
Status of WASH in urban schools
Cumulative Number of Toilets Constructed under Total
Sanitation Campaign
1400000
100
1224191
94
96
88
94
74
80
66
996211
1000000
851731
598727
600000
Percentage
1101720
1200000
60
40
20
362468
230926
200000
0
80
60
43
Source: DISE, NUEPA, New Delhi
800000
1247504
54
51
632276
0
400000
60
60
600000
100
Percentage

1400000
Number of schools having separate toilet
facility for girls has increased from
0.4 million (37%) in 2005-06 to
1.24 million (88%) in 2012-13.
Number of Schools

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
0
Drinking
water
Separate toilet
for girls
Rural
Separate toilet
for boys
Urban
The Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan supports the School Sanitation and
Hygiene Education programme. Nearly 1.22 million toilets
have been constructed in rural government schools under the
program.
The situation in urban schools is also similar to those
in rural areas.
Source: http://tsc.gov.in, Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Government of India
Source: U-DISE 2012-13, NUEPA, New Delhi
The functionality disparity
Functionality of water facilities continues to remain a major gap to be plugged
100
73439
73439
232428
73439
208405
1358263
1125835
1149858
Coverage
Improved
Functional
Percentage
80

60
40

20
0
Available
Not improved
Though 95 per cent schools have a drinking
water facility, it is functional in only 85 per cent
of these schools.
Water facility is functioning in more than
90 per cent schools in 13 states/UTs, while it is
functioning in less than 65 per cent schools in
4 states/UTs (Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur,
Meghalaya and Tripura).
Facility not available
Source: U-DISE 2012-13, NUEPA, New Delhi
Functionality of toilets also continue to remain a challenge
Functionality of girls toilets remain a major
challenge. 25 per cent of schools still have
non-functional toilets.

Percentage
100
165245
80
460471
60
97993
317157
40
841308
930347
Separate toilet for boys
Separate toilet for girls
20
0
Available and functioning
Available but not functioning
Not available
State-wise functionality of drinking water
facilities in schools
Jammu & Kashmir
69.0
Chandigarh
99.5
Haryana
94.1
Daman & Diu
93.8
Uttar Pradesh
88.0
Madhya Pradesh
76.0
Meghalaya
50.9
Rajasthan
90.4
Bihar
85.2
Nagaland
69.1
Manipur
62.4
Chhattisgarh
84.9
Odisha
72.9
Tripura
62.8
Karnataka
98.4
Kerala
86.8
Andaman & Nicobar
Islands
87.4
Bihar
80.4
Nagaland
96.6
Manipur
63.2
Chhattisgarh
47.2
Odisha
32.7
Tripura Mizoram
47.5
61.2
West Bengal
59.3
Andhra Pradesh
37.5
Karnataka
96.5
Total
75% or less than 75% (8)
75.1%-84.7% (National avg.) (5)
84.8%-95% (15)
More than 95% (7)
Assam
86.1
Jharkhand
64.5
Madhya Pradesh
58.5
Maharashtra
77.0
Goa
72.3
Tamil Nadu
94.8
Meghalaya
72.8
Sikkim
74.2
Uttar Pradesh
95.5
Dadra &
Nagar Haveli
80.1
Andhra Pradesh
73.6
Lakshadweep
100.0
Gujarat
97.2
Daman & Diu
91.8
West Bengal
84.0
Puducherry
99.6

Mizoram
83.5
Arunachal Pradesh
46.1
Chandigarh
98.4
Uttarakhand
62.2
Haryana
90.0
NCT of Delhi
100.0
Assam
78.2
Jharkhand
86.3
Maharashtra
88.7
Dadra &
Nagar Haveli
91.4
Goa
94.0
Sikkim
84.8
Himachal Pradesh
84.0
Punjab
87.5
Arunachal Pradesh
59.8
Uttarakhand
80.2
Rajasthan
86.7
Gujarat
98.6
Jammu & Kashmir
37.8
Himachal Pradesh
93.0
Punjab
98.8
NCT of Delhi
100.0
State-wise functionality of separate toilet
for girls in schools
Tamil Nadu
72.3
Lakshadweep
61.4
Kerala
69.7
Total
Puducherry
94.0
Andaman & Nicobar
Islands
74.0
Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and J&K have less than 40 per cent of schools with functional girls toilets.
Source: U-DISE 2012-13, NUEPA, New Delhi
60% or less than 60% (8)
60.1%-74.6% (National avg) (11)
74.7%-90.0% (7)
More than 90% (9)
WASH in Schools progress - Acceleration required
Percentage of children (by enrolment)
without access to drinking water facility
Jammu & Kashmir
6.6
Punjab
0.1
Sikkim
1.7
Gujarat
0.1
Goa
0.8
Nagaland
16.3
Tripura
7.1
Odisha
4.1
Mizoram
6.9
Madhya Pradesh
5.3
Maharashtra
0.9
Goa
1.3
Nagaland
0.8
Jharkhand
12.5
Manipur
2.3
Chhattisgarh
9.3
Odisha
27.0
Tripura
6.8
Mizoram
1.9
Andhra Pradesh
17.7
Karnataka
0.3
Total
Puducherry
0.1
1.0% or less than 1% (17)
1.1%-2.6% (National avg) (3)
2.7%-5.0% (5)
More than 5% (10)
Andaman & Nicobar
Islands
0.3
Bihar
15.9
West Bengal
14.9
Total
Tamil Nadu
0.5
Assam
20.5
Meghalaya
46.0
Sikkim
1.4
Uttar Pradesh
1.4
Dadra &
Nagar Haveli
11.0
Karnataka
0.2
Kerala
1.0

Daman & Diu
0.3
West Bengal
1.2
Puducherry
0.1

Gujarat
1.1
Manipur
7.7
Andhra Pradesh
6.7
Lakshadweep
0.0
Uttarakhand
Haryana
3.1
1.8
Rajasthan
1.5
Jharkhand
5.7
Chhattisgarh
3.7
Dadra &
Nagar Haveli
0.2
Assam
15.1
Arunachal Pradesh
16.8
Chandigarh
0.0
NCT of Delhi
0.0
Bihar
3.4
Madhya Pradesh
2.7
Maharashtra
0.7
Daman & Diu
0.0
Meghalaya
33.0
Himachal Pradesh
1.0
Punjab
2.5
Arunachal Pradesh
11.1
Chandigarh
0.0
Uttar Pradesh
0.9
Rajasthan
3.3
Jammu & Kashmir
22.1
Himachal Pradesh
0.4
Uttarakhand
2.3
Haryana
0.1
NCT of Delhi
0.0
Percentage of girls (by enrolment)
without access to separate toilet facility
Tamil Nadu
1.6
Lakshadweep
0.0
2.0% or less than 2% (18)
2.1%-7.4% (National avg) (6)
7.5%-15.0% (4)
More than 15% (7)
Andaman & Nicobar
Islands
2.6
Kerala
1.3
Although the availability of drinking water stands at 95 per cent in schools across India, a total of 5.23 million children
(2.6% children of total enrolment) do not have access to a drinking water facility in schools.
4 states (Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar and Rajasthan) account for more than 50 per cent children without access to drinking
water facility in schools.
Source: U-DISE, 2012-13, NUEPA, New Delhi
Separate toilets for boys and girls is still a long way to go...
90
80
70
Percentage
60
50
40
30
20
10
Percentage of schools without separate toilet for boys


National Average
Uttarakhand
West Bengal
Tripura
Uttar Pradesh
Sikkim
Tamil Nadu
Punjab
Rajasthan
Odisha
Puducherry
Mizoram
Nagaland
Manipur
Meghalaya
Maharashtra
Madhya Pradesh
Kerala
Lakshadweep
Karnataka
Jharkhand
Jammu & Kashmir
Haryana
Himachal Pradesh
Goa
Gujarat
Delhi
D&N Haveli
Daman & Diu
Chhattisgarh
Bihar
Chandigarh
Assam
Arunachal Pradesh
A&N Islands
Andhra Pradesh
0
Percentage of schools without separate toilet for girls
Improving access to boys’ toilets in 4 states (Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal) would reduce the
gap by 50 per cent.
Similarly, improving the access to girls’ toilets in 5 states (Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal) would
reduce the gap by 60 per cent.
Source: U-DISE 2012-13, NUEPA, New Delhi
Hygiene practices - key to child survival and development
Handwashing with soap before Mid Day Meal still remains a challenge
Percentage of Schools with a
Designated Handwashing Space
Percentage of Schools with
Soap for Handwashing
49
12
88
51
Schools with designated handwashing space
Schools without designated handwashing space
Yes
No
Only 37% of schools have handwashing
facilities close to the toilet facilities
88
100
No Data
14%
67
Children wash
hands with
soap before
eating 32%
50
Do not wash
54%
21
29
0
Boy’s Toilet
Available
Girl’s Toilet
Water available in
the toilet for flushing
and cleaning
Source: DISE 2013
Findings of an assessment conducted in 540 schools in nine states in India on the Mid Day Meal (MDM) program reveal that:

Only (51%) of the schools have a designated handwashing spaces and in 44 per cent of the schools observed the handwashing
space was being used.

Nearly half (49%) of the students washed their hands using only water. Only two out of five (42%) students use soap.

Only close to one in ten (12%) of schools had soap available at the handwashing space.
Source: Hygiene Practices in schools during Mid-Day Meals, UNICEF-India study 2009 unpublished

Another study conducted in 392 schools in seven states in India reveal that only one third (32%) of the children wash hands with
soap before eating.
Source: PAHELI Survey by Pratham under United Joint Programme on Convergence (UNJPC), 2012

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