Maharashtra's norm of one toilet for 20 tribal students 'inhuman'

The Centre may be mooting for an India free of open defecation, but for students in Maharashtra's tribal schools, access to clean toilets remains a first-world facility. Norms for tribal schools provide for one bathroom and toilet per 20 students, which in itself has been termed "inhuman" by a government committee studying the situation.

In its report submitted to the state legislature during the Budget session, the public accounts committee (PAC) has called for greater availability of toilet units and bathrooms for students in ashramshalas (residential schools for tribal children).

The state government's ashramshala code for 2006-07 prescribes a number of basic amenities for ashramshalas, such as classroom, library, lab, kitchen, playground, drinking water, toilet and so on.

"When the committee asked for details of infrastructure provided in the 502 ashramshalas based on the 2006 code, it was told rules suggested that one toilet and one bathroom was necessary per 20 students," said the PAC, led by Gopaldas Agrawal, Congress MLA from Gondia. "This norm of having one bathroom and toilet per 20 students is stringent and inhuman and needs to be amended immediately," the report noted.

Tribals form around 9.84% of Maharashtra's 11.23 crore census population (2011) and are among the most vulnerable and exploited social groups.

The tribal population consists of 48 groups like Andh, Warli, Bhil and Mahadeo Koli, and have 7% quota. Of these, Katkaris, Kolams and Madia Gonds are classified as primitive tribal groups (PTGs).

In its report on the general and social sector for the fiscal ended March 2015, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) had pointed to the inadequate number of toilets and bathrooms in ashramshalas. However, the test audit conducted by the CAG in 52 selected ashramshalas with a sanctioned strength of 27,470 students revealed that only 796 toilets and 704 bathrooms were available. This means that on an average, while one toilet was available for 35 students, one bathroom was available for 39 students. The PAC said these 52 ashramshalas now had one toilet seat per 17 students and one bathroom for every 20. "For other ashramshalas in the state, there is one toilet for every 25 children and one bathroom for 20 students," it added.

The committee also expressed its unhappiness at temporary sources of water being made available in 143 of 502 ashramshalas and called for permanent provisions to be made. It rued that in some ashramshalas, there were no bathrooms for female students, and added that in residential schools which lacked toilets, students had no option but to relieve themselves in the open. Girl students went to public toilets for women.

Activist Pratibha Shinde of the Punarvasan Sangharsha Samiti noted that even the 1:20 ratio for toilets for students held little meaning. "How many of these toilets are functional?" she asked.

"There are eight ashramshalas in Dhadgaon taluka (in Nandurbar district) which have no buildings and function from thatched huts. What is the question of having toilets here? These students, including girls, are forced to bathe in the open. The situation is similar in an ashramshala in Akkalkuwa taluka (Nandurbar) where there is little availability of water," Shinde said.