Perspective On Wash Strategy In Public Schools Of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

WASH in schools has been a recurring concern in the current Swacch Bharat Mission (SBM), the flagship program of Government of India regarding WASH issues being implemented under the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MODWS). Under this umbrella, the Swacch Vidyalaya Abhiyan (SVA) was launched by GOI in 2014. The current study was done in 2017, three years after the launch of SVA with the objective of a situational analysis and study of WASH in the selected schools of L.ucknow. The study areas constituted of schools in the blocks of Lucknow district. The study was supported by Ankur Yuva Chetna Shivir (AYCS), a NGO working on WASH issues with schools of Lucknow. The current study is a qualitative study. It cited out what is to be done in future regarding WASH by the school authorities like the education department of Lucknow district and NGOs based upon the discussions held at two levels viz, the community in the vicinity of the schools and stake holders like the teachers of the schools and the Front Line workers of public health system like ASHA, ANM and AWW of the women and child development department. The study included FGDs among students and stake holders included teachers of the schools and FLWs Public Health System of UP. The findings reflect gender disparity, inequality in the context of social issues among children in the public schools. Children being absent from schools because of WASH related issues like proper and universal use of toilets and menstrual hygiene management are also brought forth. The ever important issue of portable water facility at the school is also brought to focus in the current study.