The Supreme Court has directed the central and stategovernments to provide basic infrastructure, including drinking water andtoilets, in all schools within six months (by March 2013). On earlier occasionsalso, the court had observed that girl students were not being sent to schoolsin certain places because of lack of toilet facilities and that not providingthe infrastructure was a violation of the right to free and compulsoryeducation of children guaranteed under Article 21A of the constitution.
Besides, the RTE Act mandates schools to have basicinfrastructure facilities like an all-weather building with at least oneclassroom for every teacher and an office for the head teacher. It alsorecommends a separate toilet each for girls and boys, a playground and alibrary for every school with sufficient reading material, electrification ofthe school building, ramp access for disabled students, and computers.
But statistics have their own story. A reality check,compiled from various reports, on the progress made by state governments on thefront shows the enormity of the task that lies ahead of them. Mandatoryfacilities are still a distant dream for many children studying in governmentschools across the country.
