Swachh Bharat: Corporate houses commit to construct 1 lakh toilets in schools

NEW DELHI: A host of corporate houses today made a commitment to the government on construction of one lakh toilets in schools across the country under their CSR initiative, with state-run power company NTPC promising to build 24,000 units.

Various public and private corporate houses held interaction with HRD Minister Smriti Irani here to discuss about their participation in the government's 'Swachh Bharat' and 'Swachh Vidyalya campaign' under their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative.

Among the attendees of the meeting were Infosys Foundation Chairperson Sudha Murti, Maruti Suzuki Chairman R C Bhargava, J&K Tyres Chairperson Raghupati Singhania and Chairperson CII, CSR initiative.

Reiterating the government's resolve to provide toilets in every school with a separate toilet facility for girls within one year, Irani invited the corporate sector to participate in the endeavour by constructing toilets and also maintaining them for some time.

Murti blocked 109 schools in Bhubaneswar on the HRD Ministry website which was thrown open to private sector to book the schools of their interest.

Commitments were made by TCS, Toyota Kirloskar, Bharti Foundation and Ambuja Cements for construction of toilets, said a government statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Independence Day had set a target of one year for construction of toilets with separate toilets for girls in schools.

As per statistics, over 1.14 lakh government schools are without girls toilet and 1.52 lakh are without boys toilet.

The average cost of construction of a toilet block is about Rs 1.30 lakh while the maintenance cost stands at Rs 20,000.

Under the 'Swachh Bharat' and 'Swachh Vidyalya campaign' individuals/corporate/institutions which are interested in building toilet blocks will be allocated the schools of their choice while the HRD Ministry will advise the states concerned to facilitate construction of toilets in schools allocated to individuals/corporate/institutions.