Crisis of sanitation in schools

While Jammu and Kashmir is inching towards progress and prosperity, the recent reports indicating that over 1,900 government-run schools in the region lack separate toilets for girls is not just alarming, but a stark reminder of the gaping inequities that still plague our education system. For the region that has made strides in improving literacy and infrastructure in recent years, the absence of such a basic facility is nothing short of a silent emergency. Sanitation is not a luxury, but a fundamental human right, especially for girls in school. The lack of separate, safe and hygienic toilets for female students directly impacts their health, dignity and most critically their ability to continue education. Studies across India have consistently shown that adolescent girls are far more likely to drop out of school if clean and private toilets are not available, particularly after reaching puberty. In Jammu and Kashmir, the absence of proper sanitation facilities compounds the problem. What message does this send to our daughters? That their basic needs are negotiable? That their education is secondary to infrastructure planning? These are questions the education department must answer with urgency and accountability. The situation also raises broader concerns about the effective implementation of government schemes like Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan, which mandates separate toilets for girls and boys in all government schools. The intent is noble, but the execution clearly is faltering. Whether the gap is due to poor planning, lack of funds, or bureaucratic delays, the cost is being paid by thousands of girls who are being silently pushed out of the classroom. This is not just a matter of toilets. It is about creating an enabling environment where girls feel safe, respected, and empowered to pursue education. Without this, the vision of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao remains a hollow slogan.