Recruitment of sanitation workers not a priority for state

Vikas Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 4

Notwithstanding the tall claims of the state government to improve sanitation in government schools by holding drives like Swacch Bharat Abhiyan, the ground reality is entirely different.

Already struggling to provide toilet facilities in the government schools, the authorities are also not much concerned about maintaining hygiene in those schools which have the facilities.

Sources claimed that there were more than 28,000 government schools in J&K, of which around 15,000 schools had no toilet facility, which was nearly 53 per cent. They added that the government schools which were having toilet facilities for the students were facing acute shortage of cleaners and allied staff to ensure proper cleaning of washrooms.

Sources further said no initiative was taken by the School Education Department to recruit cleanersin the government schools. Further, there is no provision for the allocation of funds meant primarily for proper cleaning of washrooms.

“What to talk of other districts of Jammu division, even the government schools in Jammu district are facing similar problems. There are around 1,430 schools in Jammu district, including 960 primary schools, 300 middle schools, 108 high schools and 62 higher secondary schools. The condition of washrooms in the schools which have toilet facilities is worst. Schools do not have enough funds to even hire cleaners on a daily basis to clean washrooms,” sources claimed.

“The School Education Department which deals in recruitment ranging from teaching faculty to laboratory/office assistants never advertise the post of cleaners and allied staff for permanent recruitment in government schools, which is one of the main reasons behind the prevailing poor sanitation.

Conducting Swacch Bharat Abhiyan for a day or a week is a mere formality as the permanent solution to improve sanitation facilities in government schools is not a priority for the authorities,” they maintained.

Meanwhile, Jammu Chief Education Officer JK Sudan told The Tribune: “Yes, it is true that government schools are facing a paucity of cleaners/allied staff for cleaning washrooms. However, big institutions like higher secondary schools have managed to hire sweepers from the municipality to clean their washrooms.”

When asked about whether there is any provision for the recruitment of cleaners on a permanent basis in government schools, Sudan said: “No there is no such provision as schools have to manage it on their own.”