Now, Swachhta fortnight at schools in September

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 25

In a fresh push to the Swach Bharat campaign, the Education Department has called for the celebration of Swachhta Pakhwada across government and private schools from September 1 to 15. From making videos to holding swachta pledges, holding meets and contests as well as putting up signs and boards, a plethora of activities have been recommended to schools under the project.

As per the letter issued to all schools, DEOs, CEOs and BPEOs in this regard, on the very first day of the pakhwada, Swachhta Shapath (cleanliness pledge) shall be organised by all schools and educational institutions wherein all students and staff have been told to participate in the events.

The department has also told schools to post swachhta awareness messages on the website of their respective organisations/schools and to display photographs on swachhta at schools.

Schools have been told to undertake the aforementioned action and upload information, video clips, photos, regarding this on the Shagun portal by September 20, 2017.

Meeting of SMCs/PYAs or between parents and teachers /staff will have to be arranged in the first week of the pakhwada to highlight the importance of cleanliness and sanitation among children and teachers and to encourage and inspire them to continue with the good practices for hygiene and sanitation in schools as well as home. Teachers shall also inspect sanitary facilities in every school/ institution and make proposal/plan for the repair and upkeep of the facilities, if required.

Instructions have also been issued to organise competitions at the district/blocks/clusters level to maintain cleanliness and well-maintained premises and toilets in schools.

Essay/quiz, painting and debate competition for students on swachhta and to boost cleanliness and hygiene practices shall also be held during the fortnight.

Swachhta awareness messages have to be to be posted on the website of the organisations/schools. Alternatively, photographs on swachhta may also be displayed at schools. Schools have also been instructed to remove waste material like broken furniture, unusable equipment, defunct benches etc from their premises. Teachers and students, in association with local representatives, have also been told to propagate the theme of the pakhwada among residents in nearby areas.

Besides, audio-visual programmes shall also be undertaken to motivate students/employees and others. Schools have also been instructed that electronic banners may be created and uploaded on the department/state web portals to highlight the observance of the pakhwada. Necessary directions may also be issued to schools to include Sawchhta in the agenda of the meeting of their school management committees which may be organised during the period.

The instructions also say that schools may hold pledges on swachhta during the morning assembly everyday during the pakhwada. Student ambassadors shall also be nominated for focusing on swachhta during the pakhwada.

DEO (S) Jalandhar Sunita Sahota said, “The letter has been received from the state education department and instructions have been issued to all schools to comply with them. The pakhwada shall be celebrated across all schools.”