Swachh Truck programme for clean toilets at schools

Vikarabad: There are about 2,500 government schools in Ranga Reddy and Vikarabad Districts. Almost all these schools have toilets, yet they are not functional and are left unclean and thereby unhygienic for students to use. Some government schools do not have running water supply to clean the toilets.

To address the issue, Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, ex-MP from Chevella, has embarked on an innovative programme named, 'Swachh Truck,' which is first of its kind in India. The programme not only keeps the school toilets clean, but also boosts employment opportunities and ignites the idea of the dignity of labour among rural youth.

A Swachh Truck is a mini truck equipped with an engine-driven pump, a water tank, and a high-pressure water nozzle to clean the toilets. Each Swachh Truck can clean toilets in about 26 to 30 schools, while providing one full time or 2 part-time jobs to the local youths.

These jobs pay Rs 18,000 per month for full-time work and Rs 9,000 per month for part-time work. Currently 3 trucks are cleaning 75 schools in Ranga Reddy District, improving the lives of about 6,500 students and providing employment to 5 rural youths.