Girls scared of using washrooms at schools

Kapra: The girl students in the Zilla Parishad High Schools (ZPHS) that come under the Kapra circle feel uneasy and hesitate to use the ill-maintained washrooms. The washrooms are in a pitiable condition with no basic amenities and lack of water.

Parvati, a VIII class student of ZPHS Balaji Nagar said, "There have been several times when we control ourselves and wait till the school ends and go home to relieve. The girls who come from far away have to go through tremendous stress and sometimes they are forced to go to friend's places that stay near the school.

There is also lack of dustbins in the washrooms hence sanitary pads are thrown within the washroom or outside. The entire washroom floor, walls and hand wash area consist of green algae posing a risk."

Lakshmi an IX class student of ZPHS Jawahar Nagar said, "A few years ago there was no even a single washroom for us. Though the washrooms have been built for students recently, there is no proper maintenance of toilets but, teachers' washrooms are well-maintained, and no student is allowed use them. It is only when we complain to teachers the washrooms are opened and then again closed after 3 to 4 days."

Another issue is the proportion of the washrooms as compared to the girl students are less in these schools. Due to which, during recess and lunch break there is a heavy rush at the washrooms. It becomes a chaos like situation during these times.

There are four ZPH Schools that come under the Kapra circle. In ZPHS Arun Nagar, the strength of girl students is 480 and only 7 washrooms have been allotted.

In ZPHS Rampally, there are 302 girls and only four are being used and two are under repair for a long time. In ZPHS Jawahar Nagar, there are 456 girls and only four washrooms are allotted to them. In ZPHS Balaji Nagar, there are 335 girls and only two washrooms are allotted to them, two more washrooms are under repair.

The students have been complaining to the teachers and management about the lack of cleanliness in washrooms. The superiors promise them to help in overcoming with these problems but that never happens. It is high time that the authorities resolve the issue permanently, said a teacher on condition of anonymity.