Pay Re 1 to keep your school clean

KOCHI: From this academic year, government school students in Ernakulam district will shell out one rupee every month to contribute towards maintaining hygiene.
The money collected will be used to provide soaps in school toilets, nail cutter and other such items that will improve the sanitation level.
The pilot project will be launched in 26 government schools in the district.
Coordinator of the district sanitation committee PK Alex said, “We have asked school authorities to keep a box in the classroom, where children can donate Re 1 every month. However, it is not compulsory for students to contribute the amount. Some schools are following this procedure and buying items to improve the sanitation standards with the money collected. Our aim is to instill a sense of proper cleanliness in schools.”
The aim is to make them model schools in sanitation by having neat toilets, clean classrooms and neat premises. Under the scheme, the district sanitation committee coordinates with the school’s parent teachers association (PTA), alumni students associations and local representatives.
“Under the pilot project, one government school in each panchayat is selected. Schools which have poor sanitation are selected and now efforts are on to improve their condition. Our goal is to ensure that these schools achieve total sanitation”, said Alex. The schools are also given Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000 by the sanitation committee. PTAs have welcomed the move. “We have finished painting in our school under the scheme. It is a good initiative to improve sanitation. The decision to take Re 1 per student, per month for this purpose is a welcome move”, said PTA president of panchayat UPS, Maruthur, Benny Vattikankan.