417 Chennai schools impart cleanliness coaching to students

The 10th edition of Swachh Survekshan, the annual cleanliness and sanitation survey conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, has a new criterion: assessing cleanliness-related behavioural change programmes in schools.

Greater Chennai Corporation is gearing up for this aspect of the survey with the support of the swachh management committees it has formed in 417 schools under its jurisdiction.

A five-member committee in each school comprising a nodal teacher, supported by two educators and two students will be driving various initiatives to ring home the message on cleanliness and hygiene. The programme is aimed at bringing behavioural change in students of Classes VI, VII and VIII and will start with an orientation programme for all the nodal teachers from these schools.

A staff working on this initiative points out that a booklet guiding teachers on how to take classes on solid waste management will be officially launched soon. The nodal teachers will go back and train the teams from their schools including class teachers.

‘People Movement for Clean City’, another initiative launched three years ago, will also be guiding the swachh management committees. Every third Wednesday, the last period on the timetable, will focus on cleanliness, waste segregation and the role children can play in keeping the premises around them spic and span. There is also a proposal to pass a GO so that lessons on solid waste management are part of the timetable, adds the staff.