Equity in School Water and Sanitation

EQUITY IN SCHOOL WATER AND SANITATIONANNEX5Excerpts from SSHE GuidelinesThe SSHE programme has two major elements:Hardware componentThe total package of drinking water, handwashing and sanitary facilities along with arrangements forproper disposal of solid and liquid waste, available in and around the school compound.Separate toilet complexes for girls and boys with minimum of one toilet and two urinals each irrespectiveof the number of students. The number of toilets and urinals should be increased depending on thestrength of the students, as per the defined norms.This also implies that technologies will be child/gender and disabled friendly, environmentally appropriateand sustainable.For upper primary schools, arrangements for menstrual hygiene management, such as incinerators ingirls’ toilet complex.Separate handwashing facilities for washing hands after using toilets and for washing hands beforeand after eating midday meals.Provision of safe drinking water and adequate water for hygiene throughput the year using low-costcommunity owned solutions such as force lift hand pump technology, rooftop rainwater harvesting,etc., wherever appropriate.Platform around drinking water source along with proper waste water disposal arrangements.Proper arrangements for garbage disposal (may be a simple compost pit) and waste water management.Software componentThis includes health and hygiene activities aimed at promoting conditions in schools and practices byschool staff and children that help to prevent water and sanitation related diseases.Hygiene education in the school on key hygiene behaviour.Setting up institutional structures for maintenance of WATSAN infrastructure.Food hygiene, especially where schools provide meals.Other desirable elements of SSHE are:Regular health check-ups and de-worming in schools.Counselling and facilities for menstrual management.Adaptations suited to the disabled in at least one toilet.Water quality monitoring.Source: Government of India and UNICEF India (2008). An Inclusive Approach for School Sanitation and Hygiene Education, Strategy, Norms, andDesigns. New Delhi: UNICEF & Ministry of Rural Development.76