WASH activities in schools of Jharkhand

Author: G. Varma

In the hard rock terrain of Jharkhand, safe water is a very scarce resource. With uncertainity and irregularity in rainfall pattern and frequent drought spells as in parts of Jharkhand in recent years, it becomes imperative to make optimum utilization of available water resources. It has been visualized that the small hands of a child receive and utilize less amount of water compared to more pouring of water through hand pump nozzle (cock) thus good amount of water is remained unused and hence wasted. The introduction of mid-day meal in schools has encouraged the enrollment in schools but at the same time has increased the use of water by children in cleaning their plates and hands before and after meal. In light of this, an effort is planned to demonstrate in schools of Jharkhand through the active participation of children and schools' administration that by installation of additional water points and reuse of water that is beig currently wasted through waste water storage tank.