In yet another step towards improving the hygienic conditions of the educational institutes and thereby contributing to the student health care, the state government has decided to provide chemicals for the purification of drinking water in schools. All the district administrations in the state have been instructed to distribute these chemicals to all the schools for chemical treatment of drinking water. The decision has been taken on account of the increasing incidents of health problems faced by students due to impure drinking water.

Considerable sum of Rs. 2.32 crores has been sanctioned by the State Government for the purchase and distribution of the chemicals. More than 13 lakh bottles of chemicals will be supplied under this campaign.

The government has appointed the Director of Primary School Education as the coordinating authority for the purchase and supply of chemicals as well as implementation of the idea in schools. This coordinating authority is also supposed to instruct the respective civic administrative bodies and guide in the entire process of water purification.

The Government has shown its concern regarding the spread of several diseases among schoolchildren because of poor quality of drinking water available in schools. In most of the schools in Maharashtra, be it a rural school or an urban one, drinking water is made available from the tanks. Purification of water stored in tanks is indeed a prime need. The supply of purifiers will certainly help change the situation.

The Government has issued a Resolution (GR) through which the ministry of school education has been directed about adding sodium hypochlorite grade- I to drinking water tanks in schools. Purifiers like Medi Chlor M contain Sodium Hypochlorite- I that kills the bacteria and viruses thriving in water and make it useful for drinking purpose. The GR also states that a network of designated distributors should be set up within next ten days for the distribution of the bottles carrying purifier chemicals.

The scheme of water purification will be implemented as a part of the Mid Day Meal scheme initiated by the Union Government. Around 14.09 lakh bottles carrying 100 ml of Medi Chlor M are to be purchased on rate contract basis from the authorized dealer of the Maharashtra Small Scale Industries Development Corporation (MIDC).

Talking to the correspondents on Saturday, an official from the Pune District Administration said, “We have not received any instructions from the coordinating officer regarding the implementation of the government initiative as yet and the stock of chemicals to be distributed, too is yet to be received.” He also said, “In the meeting of concerned authorities this week, we will prepare the outline of the plan for the supply of purifiers to the schools in Pune District.”

- Yogesh Sapre