Toilets in schools: PM wants target met

Pushing for meeting the target of constructing toilets in all schools by August 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today directed officials to assess the progress made on this front across the country so that "bottlenecks", if any, could be removed expeditiously.
Reviewing the 'Swachh Vidyalaya Programme' at a high-level meeting here, he was informed about the status of construction of toilets in schools across various states by the governments, PSUs as well as some private sector entities.
The Prime Minister had announced from the ramparts of the Red Fort during his Independence Day address last year his government's intention to construct toilets in all schools within one year.

Based on the available data, Modi noted that several states are already close to achieving the hundred percent target, a PMO statement said.
He directed officials concerned to focus on these states immediately so that these states complete the task at the earliest.
The Prime Minister directed Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth and Cabinet Secretary-designate P.K. Sinha to personally review the figures being reported from various parts in the country so that "any bottlenecks in the full implementation of the vision of 'Swachh Vidyalaya' initiative can be removed expeditiously," the statement said.
Observing gaps in implementation of the targets accepted by some PSUs and some private sector entities, Modi directed that these be looked into so that these organizations can also meet their targets within the stipulated timeframe.

Union Minister for Human Resource Development Smriti Irani was present at the meeting which was also attended by top officials from the Ministry of Human Resource Development, NITI Aayog and the PMO.