Over 3,580 govt schools in Kʼtaka lack functional loos: Report
Bengaluru: More than 3,580 government schools in Karnataka are without functional toilets, while nearly 4,000 schools lack hand wash facilities, highlighting a significant gap in basic infrastructure.
This glaring situation was highlighted in the recently released Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) 2023-24 report, which underscores the neglect of essential facilities within the state’s education system. The report revealed a lack of functional toilets in 2,648 boys' or co-educational schools, and 937 girls' or co-educational schools.
Experts argue that the government must halt its focus on promoting modern practices in schools and universities until it fixes these critical infrastructure issues in government schools.
Development Educationist Professor Niranjanaradhya mentioned that the figures are ‘underestimated’ and fail to represent the ground reality. “The availability of toilet facilities is far worse than what the report indicates. The actual numbers are likely three to four times more,” he was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express.
He remarked that providing basic facilities such as functional toilets and drinking water are essential development rights. However, he pointed out that these rights require adequate funding, which the state government appears unwilling to prioritise.
Prof. Niranjanaradhya emphasised that the Right to Education (RTE) Act, which mandates these basic facilities, has been in effect since 2010. "Fifteen years later, in 2025, if the government still fails to meet these basic standards, what hope do we have of achieving anything beyond this?" he questioned.
Child rights activist Vasudev Sharma highlighted the poor state of washrooms, especially in rural areas, noting issues like lack of running water, broken latches, and inconvenient locations, making them unsafe and inaccessible for children. He also questioned why the government focuses improvements only on urban areas.
He described this as a severe violation of the RTE Act and a betrayal of every child in government schools, pointing out that despite the reports exposing the truth, the government continues to ignore them.
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Bengaluru: A new health report has revealed that over 75% of Karnataka's population screened in 2024 is either obese or overweight, highlighting an alarming rise in lifestyle-related health issues.
According to the Health of the Nation 2025 report by Apollo Hospitals, as cited by The New Indian Express on Tuesday, 56% of those screened were diagnosed as obese, while another 21% were classified as overweight.
The report underscores a growing public health crisis, driven by sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition, and undiagnosed chronic conditions that often do not show visible symptoms. The annual report, which examined health data from over 2.5 million preventive screenings conducted across the Apollo ecosystem in India, reveals that symptom-based healthcare is increasingly insufficient to address these hidden health risks.
In Karnataka, the report found that 28% of the individuals screened were hypertensive, with half of them classified as pre-hypertensive. Diabetes was found in 20% of the population, with an additional 25% falling into the pre-diabetic category. These figures reflect the rising metabolic stress among asymptomatic individuals, many of whom are unaware of their conditions.
Additionally, the report noted that 84% of the screened individuals in the state had low vitamin D levels, which can negatively impact bone health and immunity. Furthermore, 64% exhibited reduced flexibility, affecting musculoskeletal wellness.
Dr Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman of Apollo Hospitals, emphasised the need for India to shift towards a preventive health culture. "Early screening, personalised interventions, and health education should become integral to our homes, schools, and workplaces," TNIE quoted him as saying.
The report also highlighted several other health threats, including fatty liver disease, post-menopause health risks, and childhood obesity. Of the 2.5 million people screened nationally, 65% had fatty liver with 85% of those cases being non-alcoholic. Heart disease signs were present in 46% of asymptomatic individuals, while post-menopausal women saw a sharp increase in both obesity (from 76% to 86%) and diabetes (from 14% to 40%).
Childhood obesity is also becoming a significant concern, with the report revealing that 28% of college students were either overweight or obese, and 19% showed signs of prehypertension.
Mental health issues, often under-reported, emerged as another area of concern, with 7% of women and 5% of men screened nationwide showing symptoms of clinical depression, particularly among the middle-aged population.
