Water testing made mandatory at 25 city residential schools

Kolkata, Aug. 17 -- The Samagra Shiksha Mission (SSM), Kolkata, has made testing of all water sources mandatory at 25 Netaji Subhas Chandra Abasiya Vidyalayas in the city, with schools and the NGOs running them asked to maintain records and submit water-quality reports amid the monsoon and the risk of water-borne and other communicable diseases.

In a recently issued directive, the district education officer of SSM said water used for drinking, cooking and other purposes on school and hostel premises must be tested.

The directive also requires water points in and around kitchens, overhead tanks, reservoirs and other storage facilities used for drinking and cooking to be thoroughly cleaned before testing and at regular intervals.

Schools have been asked to ensure systematic cleaning of dormitories, kitchens, dining areas, toilets, wash areas and adjoining premises. Particular attention has been sought to prevent water stagnation, accumulation of waste and other conditions that could facilitate the spread of communicable diseases.

All water-purification systems on school and hostel premises must be cleaned, maintained and serviced at regular intervals. Records of cleaning, servicing and replacement of filters or other consumable components must be maintained and produced during inspections, when required.

Schools with community kitchens or PM Poshan facilities have also been directed to test all water sources used for drinking, cooking and food preparation.

The NGOs in charge have been asked to ensure that hostel and caregiving staff enforce regular handwashing and personal hygiene among boarders, particularly before meals and after using toilets. Adequate arrangements for safe water, soap and handwashing facilities must also be ensured.

School heads and NGO representatives have been given joint responsibility for implementing the measures. Any deficiency relating to water quality, sanitation, hygiene or cleanliness must be addressed immediately, the directive said.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.