Ensure Safe and Usable Toilets, Drinking Water and Classrooms in Government Schools

A child should be able to go to school and focus on learning. They should not have to worry about whether the toilet is usable.

They should not have to carry extra water because the school supply may not work. They should not have to sit in a classroom with damaged walls, leaking roofs or unsafe electrical fittings.

These are basic things, but they can make a major difference in whether a child feels safe and comfortable at school.

In some schools, infrastructure may exist on paper but may not always be properly maintained.

A toilet that cannot be used is not really a facility. A water tap that does not work when children need it is not enough. A classroom that becomes unsafe during heavy rain should not continue to be used simply because there is nowhere else to place students.

Parents send their children to school trusting that the premises will be safe. Teachers should also not be expected to manage serious infrastructure problems without timely support from the authorities responsible for maintenance and repairs.

We are asking the Government of Maharashtra and the concerned School Education authorities to ensure regular inspection and maintenance of government school facilities.

Schools should have access to safe drinking water, clean and functional toilets, secure classrooms, safe electrical systems and buildings that are suitable for children to use every day.

Where repairs are urgently required, schools should have a clear way to report the problem and receive action within a reasonable time.

Maintenance should not happen only after a serious accident, media report or public complaint.

Prevention must come first. A safe school environment is not an extra benefit. It is part of giving every child the opportunity to learn with dignity.

No child should miss school, avoid drinking water, hesitate to use a toilet or sit in an unsafe classroom because basic infrastructure has been neglected.

Please sign this petition and support the call for safe, functional and properly maintained government schools across Maharashtra.