The Department of School Education and Literacy instituted Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar (SVP) for 2021 – 2022 has been launched is open to all categories of schools. i.e. Government, Government aided and Private schools in both rural and urban areas. The schools have been given sufficient time till March 2022 to apply for the awards so that they can do so at an appropriate and safe time.
The schools will be assessed through an online portal & mobile app in 6 sub-categories: Water, Sanitation, Hand Washing with soap, Operation and Maintenance, Behaviour Change and Capacity Building and the newly added category on COVID-19 Preparedness and Response and the system will generate the overall score and rating automatically. Schools shall be awarded at the District, State and National level based on an internationally recognized five star rating system. Also, every school will get a certificate of participation showing the category-wise scores and overall rating of the school. This will help in promoting sustainable practices of improved Water, Sanitation & Hygiene in schools.
At the National level, 40 schools will be selected for awards this year under the overall category. The award money for the schools has been enhanced this year from Rs. 50,000/- to Rs. 60,000/- per school, under Samagra Shiksha scheme. Also, 6 sub-category wise awards have been introduced for the first time, with award money of Rs. 20,000/- per school.
Subhas Sarkar, Minister of State for Education on Jan 12 virtually launched Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar (SVP) 2021 – 2022. The event was attended by Anita Karwal, Secretary (SE&L), and representatives from all States and UTs and UNICEF. Sarkar emphasized that the SVP recognise, inspire and award the schools who have undertaken exemplary work in the field of water, sanitation and hygiene and also provides a benchmark and roadmap for schools to make further improvements in future.
The award was started in 2016-17 to create self-motivation and awareness about sanitation among school communities in the country.
