Over 20000 state schools have no toilets in Assam

By Newest, timesofindia.indiatimes.com    October 25, 2014

Guwahati: Despite the government's efforts to improve sanitation in schools, latest statistics by the Union ministry of human resource development (MHRD) have revealed that over 20,098 schools in Assam are without toilets. There are about 48,001 schools in Assam, including those at the upper and lower primary level, which are run by the state government.

Though the situation is worse in the rural areas, numerous schools are without toilets even in urban areas. According to statistics, many schools in Kamrup (Metro) do not have lavatories. The flood-ravaged Lakhimpur district in upper Assam has the highest number of schools (1,574) without toilets. It is followed by Nagaon district where 1,561 schools don't have the facility.

Third on the list is Dhubri district, with 1,440 schools without toilets. Barpeta and Cachar are fourth and fifth, respectively. On the other hand, Goalpara has the lowest number of schools without toilets. The MHRD statistics show that 117 schools in Goalpara are without the facility, while Kamrup (Metro) district has 179 such schools.

Apart from Goalpara and Kamrup (Metro), Udalguri (196 schools), Morigaon (309 schools) and Tinsukia (395 schools) fare comparatively better. The MHRD data has been released at a time both the state and the Centre have launched cleanliness drives following the launch of the 'Clean India' campaign by PM Modi