Availability of potable water for schoolchildren remains a myth

Nikhila Pant Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 22

“Water, water everywhere, not a drop to drink.” Samuel Taylor Coleridge must not have thought even in his wildest dreams that this line from his poem could one day be applied to the non-availability of potable water for the students of government schools in Bathinda district.

Despite the tall claims of the state government and the district Education Department of ensuring 100 per cent potable water to all government schools by installing reverse osmosis plants on the school premises, students of several schools, especially those located in rural areas, have no option but to either consume water from hand-pumps or from non-functional RO plants.

A pointer towards the same is the report of the purity tests conducted for water samples collected by the Health Department six months ago.

Out of samples collected from water sources (hand pumps, taps and RO plants) in residential areas and schools, samples of many schools had failed the test with the reports terming the water from the sources ‘unfit for consumption’.

The report also added that contaminated water from hand pumps, the only source of water for students in many government schools in Bathinda, contained excessive content of fluoride, chloride and bacteria.

The Health Department had collected about 206 samples from January to May in 2015, out of which about 38 had failed with high bacteria content. The failed samples also included water samples collected from government schools at Behman Diwana and Kot Shamir villages.

In December 2014, the Health Department collected 94 water samples from government schools. Out of these, 30 samples failed the purity test.

Water samples from hand pumps in government primary school of Bazigar Basti, Behman Diwana, Kot Shamir, Goniana Khurd and Government High School (submersible pump), Nathana, had failed the test.

Similarly, samples of water from the primary school at Mandi Khurd, anganwari centres Ramdassia Patti and Centre No 37 in Ganga village, Nathana, were found unsafe due to high content of fluoride, bacteria and TDS (total dissolved salts) in them.

Officialspeak

Providing potable water is a priority

Providing potable water to students of all the schools is a priority of the Education Department. The department has sought report from all schools pertaining to the source of water and the purity test. The department has already begun the task of changing the dysfunctional RO plants, installing new ones in schools and has also given the authority to school heads to get the RO plants repaired in case there are small technical problems. Some banks and NGOs have also approached the department and showed their willingness to help with the installation of ROs in schools.

Dr Amarjit Kaur Kotfatta, district education officer (secondary) 

Speaking out

Non-serious attitude

The attitude of the Education Department towards the problem of non-availability of potable water for students of government schools is not satisfactory. The same can be said about the village panchayats and schools heads. Even in schools where the department has installed RO plants, schools heads or panchayat members are not serious about keeping them in proper functional order.

Rakesh Narula, member, District Education Development Committee

Coordinating with parents

Instead of depending on the reports to be submitted by the school heads, the Education Department must coordinate with the parents, especially of students studying in rural areas. The parents will give the department a fair report. Surprise checking and frequent water sampling must be done to ensure that the water being provided to students in government schools is safe to drink. The department may also give the RO companies the responsibility of proper functioning of the RO plants installed by them and impose a fine or blacklist them in case these are found to be shirking responsibility. 

Gauravjit Singh, Parasram Nagar resident 

Presence of toxic substances in children

A recent report conducted in the state showed the presence of high levels of toxic substances in the bodies of children of the state. A major reason of this may be drinking contaminated water. The state must utilise a bigger chunk of the World Bank grant for ensuring 100 per cent potable water in the state and begin with improving the situation in schools since these are the places, which groom the future generation.

Kapil Khurana, resident of Qila Road

Constitution of committees

The Education Department must constitute block, cluster and school-level committees to make sure that potable water is available for students. Instead of depending on banks and NGOs for providing ROs in schools, the department must ensure flow of proper funds for the purpose as the onus of installation and functioning of RO plants in schools lies with the department and it must not shirk its responsibility. 

Ritika Sharma Sandhu, resident of Mata Jivi Nagar