Water, sanitation, and hygiene in schools have a significant impact on children’s health, attendance, dropout rate, and learning outcomes. Water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities in schools promote a healthy learning environment and protect students from illness (including COVID-19) and exclusion. It is a first step toward a physically healthy learning environment that benefits both learning and health. The Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya (SBSV) initiative was launched in 2014 by Ministry of Education, Government of India, to ensure that all Indian schools have separate functional toilets for boys and girls. The initiative focuses on promoting safe and appropriate hygiene practices in schools as well as child behavior.
Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar was started in 2016–17 with three main goals: to recognize, inspire, and celebrate excellence in sanitation and hygiene; to honor schools that have taken big steps toward meeting the goals of the Swachh Vidyalaya Campaign and keeping to the standards of cleanliness and hygiene; and to encourage schools to keep improving their water, sanitation, and hygiene in a sustainable way.
Essential elements (SVP 2021-22):
1) Water.
2) Sanitation.
3) Handwashing with Soap.
4) Operation and Maintenance.
5) Behaviour Change Activities & Capacity Building.
6) “COVID-19 preparedness and response” (newly added in view of the COVID pandemic).
Commissioned by UNICEF India.
