Prajwala

PRAJWALA-Swachh Balika, Swachh Vidyalaya: Validating Scalable Models for WASH in Schools

About the Project

The Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV), were set up by Government of India as residential schools for girls belonging predominantly to the marginalised and backward community and minorities in difficult areas. KGBVs are set up by Government for girls in the higher primary classes. A national evaluation ‘Education for all in India’ has pointed towards the problem being faced by KGBVs pertaining to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).

So, building enough focus on water, sanitation and health (WASH), could act as entry point in schools for moving towards child friendly environment in schools, especially in Rajasthan. Rajasthan, geographically the largest state of the country rank lowest in literacy rate for females. In view of this and since these girls are a vulnerable category, a comprehensive WASH intervention is being supported in KGBVs as a joint initiative of Rajasthan Elementary Education Council and National Stock Exchange Foundation with Centre for Environment Education (CEE) is the knowledge and implementation partner and UNICEF as technical partner. Project Prajwala would improve scholastic outcome of the girls by improving basic personal hygiene. It would impact the lives of these marginalized girls coming from very remote parts of the state by change in their behavior and would create a trickling effect in their families and communities in a long run..

Objectives

Awareness generation & capacity building on Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) and behavioral change amongst the students, teachers in KGBVs and communities around the KGBVs.
WASH compliance at KGBVs with child friendly and gender responsive WASH facilities.

Programme Model

Reach

Strategy

Baseline survey with school specific Detail Project Report
Capacity building of stakeholders on WASH
Strengthening school led mechanisms for Operation and maintenance
Focused interventions fostering adequate WASH behaviors
Thematic material for promoting awareness and reinforcement of practices for WASH in schools
WASH compliance at KGBVs through child friendly WASH infrastructure
Synergy with state, national and international programmes
Advocacy for state level guidelines