Sayan Chatterjee,
Tezpur : Children have a right to basic facilities such as school toilets, safe drinking water, clean surroundings and basic information on hygiene. Water, sanitation and hygiene in schools create an enabling environment which secures children’s dignity, safety, health and attendance in classes. Children are more receptive and quick to adopt and sustain change. They become agents of change among their peers, families and communities in the society. Teachers as influential individuals, supported by the school management committees, play an important catalytic role.
Encouraging the thought the Chowkham Battalion under the aegis of Lohit Brigade of Dao Division has been instrumental in construction of four sets of toilet blocks (two each for boys and girls) with water supply for students of Govt Primary School, Chowkham under ‘OP-SADBHAVANA’. The project was undertaken based on inescapable requirement received from the school authorities and parents of children.
Lt. Col. Harshwardhan Pande, PRO-Defence, Tezpur said, “This goodwill project is an endeavour to provide basic civic amenities and infrastructure to schools going children of remote and inaccessible areas of Arunachal Pradesh. Also complementing Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the project has ensured clean, hygienic, comfortable and dignified environment for students of the school, especially the girl students. The project will go a long way in enhancing the goodwill of Army among the local population and is an indicator to the close and amicable relations between the Army and the civil population”
The fully operational toilet blocks were handed over to school administration in presence of EAC, Chowkham on 11 Mar 2019.
