Monitoring the Status of Water Sanitation and Hygiene and Menstrual Hygiene Management Infrastructure Facilities of Schools in India

Sulochana Pednekar, Goa University

In 2021, over 500 million school-aged children lacked basic drinking water and sanitation, with over 800 million facing inadequate hygiene facilities. Particularly in India, the absence of adequate Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure in schools poses significant barriers, especially for girls post-puberty, impacting their education and health. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act of 2009 and the Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya campaign mandate gender-sensitive sanitation facilities in schools to ensure equitable access to education. This study utilizes secondary data from the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) to evaluate the compliance of Indian schools with WHO and national standards for WASH and MHM. Findings indicate a significant shortfall in the number of functional toilets, particularly for girls, which exacerbates school absenteeism and hampers menstrual hygiene. The lack of comprehensive data on MHM facilities highlights the need for improved monitoring and targeted interventions. Addressing these deficiencies is crucial for enhancing educational outcomes and gender equality, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and national legislative frameworks. Further research is needed to assess the impact of WASH and MHM facilities on adolescent girls' school attendance and health outcomes.

Keywords: Human Capital, Education, and Work, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Children, Adolescents, and Youth, Population and Development

See extended abstract.