Imagine a 13-year-old school-going girl in a rural village in India. She is bright and eager to learn, but each month, she is forced to miss at least a week of classes at school. Why? The school has no clean, private, or functional toilet. When she gets her period, staying home is her only option.
This isn’t a hypothetical story. It is the reality of millions of girls across India. In fact, an estimated 23 million girls drop out of school each year in the country. This is simply due to the lack of proper infrastructure, menstrual hygiene facilities, and adequate sanitation.
This single, solvable problem is where the WASH in School program steps in.
It’s an acronym that you have likely heard, but its meaning and significance run deeper than just plumbing. It’s one of the most powerful tools we can utilize to aid in having a brighter future for our country, and it all starts at our schools.
What is a “WASH in School” Program?
WASH, though a simple acronym, is a life-changing concept:
Water: Safe, sufficient, clean, and reliable drinking water, and water to use in toilets, to be made available to all students.
Sanitation: Access to clean, safe, periodically checked, and gender-segregated toilets that offer both privacy as well as dignity, to both male and female students.
Hygiene: The knowledge, education, and facilities (like handwashing stations with soap) to practice good hygiene, moving towards a more aware and literate nation.
A WASH in School program does not end at installing a toilet block and a water tap. It involves a more comprehensive approach that combines vital infrastructure with education.
A successful program ensures that:
- Facilities are not just created, but are clean and functional.
- There is a reliable supply of safe, clean, hygienic drinking water and water for handwashing, and for use in toilets.
- Hygiene education is integrated into the school course curriculum, teaching children why and how to wash their hands with soap, using audiovisual or print media for education.
- Proper facilities for Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM), including access to sanitary products in female toilets and safe disposal bins, are available. This education should be provided to both male and female students.
Importance of WASH in Schools
Implementing a well-articulated WASH program creates a ripple effect that touches health, education, and equality, particularly in Indian villages where empowerment is needed the most. Here’s why WASH is relevant for Indian education system:
1. Direct Health Impact: Fewer Sick Days
In India, poor sanitation and contaminated water are the primary reasons for water-borne diseases like cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, and typhoid. These illnesses are a main cause of absenteeism, reducing productivity.
Fact: Poor sanitation and related diseases are a major contributor to malnutrition and stunting among village children.
Solution: Simple handwashing with soap can prevent the transmission of many of these diseases. A school with a WASH program is a school where children are less likely to miss classes due to illness.
2. Educational Impact: More Children in School
Better Attendance: Healthy children do not miss school, improving learning outcomes. Research shows that proper WASH facilities can increase primary school enrolment by 12% and upper-primary enrolment by over 8%.
Better Focus: Healthy and hydrated children concentrate better and perform well academically.
3. Gender Equality Impact: Keeping Girls in School
The lack of safe, private, and gender-segregated toilets is a major hurdle to girls’ education.
When a girl starts menstruating, schools without proper MHM facilities become places of embarrassment.
She may use unhygienic materials, fear staining her clothes, or risk infection — leading to missed school days and eventual dropout.
Solution: A WASH in School program provides a safe, private space for girls to manage their period with dignity. This removes one of the greatest barriers to education and sends a powerful message: her education matters.
4. Social Impact: Children as Agents of Change
Schools are where lifelong habits are formed. When children learn about hygiene at school, they take these practices home and influence their communities.
A child who washes hands with soap or explains the importance of toilets can uplift health and hygiene standards for an entire community.
Don’t forget to check out these resources:
Supporting education for underprivileged children
10 NGOs supporting school hygiene programs
How to contribute to NGOs and charities
India and the Swachh Vidyalaya Mission
The Government of India initiated Swachh Bharat: Swachh Vidyalaya (Clean India: Clean Schools) in 2014.
Goal: Ensure every school in India, including rural areas, has functioning water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure.
Progress: Between 2015–2023, basic drinking water services in schools increased from 50% to 84%. Millions of toilets were built, and the national conversation on sanitation changed.
WASH is Investment, Not a Cost
A WASH in School program is not an expense — it’s a foundational investment in health, education, and equality. Here’s why Helplocal India believe in this:
- Health: Saves millions in medical costs and prevents illness.
- Education: Unlocks the potential of millions of students, especially girls.
- Equality: Ensures all children, regardless of gender or background, have the same opportunity to thrive.
Here’s how you can support initiatives like WASH in Schools program:
Get Local: Join your school’s School Management Committee (SMC). Check if toilets are clean, gender-segregated, and supplied with soap and water.
Support Experts: Donate or volunteer with organizations like UNICEF India, WaterAid India, and the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation, which run extensive WASH programs.
Talk About It: Break the taboo around hygiene and menstrual health. Normalizing these conversations helps keep girls in school.
WASH in Schools: Building a Brighter Future
The WASH in School Program is more than toilets — it ensures health, dignity, and education for every child. By providing clean water, safe sanitation, and hygiene education, schools become safe spaces where children can learn and thrive.
Supporting WASH programs is an investment in a healthier, smarter, and more equitable future for India. Share your thoughts about WASH initiative in the comments.
Here are some NGOs that are supporting vulnerable women and girls in India:
NGO supporting girls education and hygiene in Chandigarh
NGO empowering girls and women in Delhi
Mumbai NGO improving girls’ education and hygiene
Nosheen Kamruddin Abjani
Nosheen, a passionate healthcare professional with dual degrees in Pharmaceutical Sciences and an MBA in Pharmaceutical Technology, envisions translating innovations from bench to bedside. With expertise in drug development, consulting, and community healthcare, she combines scientific rigor with compassion, advocating for accessible healthcare and actively engaging with global NGOs.
