Amongst various social initiatives, undertaking School WASH programme is new & pioneering intervention of SATHI. Key aim of the programme is to provide child friendly infrastructure as well as safe water, better sanitation & hygiene facilities in govt. elementary schools & Aaganwadis in rural regions of Himachal Pradesh. Till date, SATHI with financial support of ITC ltd under Mission Sunehra Kal initiative implemented school WASH activities in 63 schools & 29 Aaganwadis of Manpura ( Baddi) industrial area of Nalagarh block of district Solan (HP).
Under Mission Sunehra Kal prgramme, School WASH activities carried by SATHI are: Construction of child friendly toilet blocks & urinals , Hand wash station, new kitchens & mid-day meal stations, Boundary walls, RWHT’s , TLM BALA paintings , class rooms repairs , Electricity fitting and other maintenance –beautification works in School-Aagwanwadi premises. In addition, SATHI also sensitized the School management committee & child cabinet for O&M of created assets, collection of school maintenance fund, maintaining proper cleaningness- sanitation in school premises. Through provision of soap banks in school-Aaganwadis, childrens are sensitized for adoption of healthy hygienic practices etc. The number of schools/Aagwanwadis covered under school WASH programme is as follows:-
1. Schools Covered (Education Block Ramshahar & Nalagarh, Distt Solan,
HP): 63 Nos.
2. Anganwadis Covered ( Development Block Nalagarh , Distt Solan, HP): 29 Nos.
In addition, under sanitation promotion activities of MSK, SATHI with support of local community constructed 230 no. sanitary toilets for poor & marginalized families and made 17 villages 100 % ODF in Nalagarh block of Solan (HP). Through workshop, seminars & village meetings, community is sensitized for regular use of toilets and cleaning ness- sanitation in villages. For empowerment of women, 135 SHG of local women are formed. These groups are involved in regular saving – inter loaning & income generation activities. SATHI has also provided skill training on income generation & onetime start up support to some most active SHGs.
Besides, child friendly infra support interventions, SATHI also promoting cost effective roof top rain water harvesting interventions at govt. owned schools in Ramshahar & Nalagarh education block of Distt. SOLAN (HP). Under the same, field action includes, construction of ferro cement rain water harvesting storage tank (capacity 7000 ltrs) , roof top connection through PVC pipe system and installation of aluminium bucket type filter media. The RWHT used as a supplementary water source and it is further connected to uses like toilet flushing, hand washing, and kitchen garden irrigation which in turn reduces reliance on underground water supply system. This intervention can also be used to teach students about water conservation through hand on activities.
