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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Shocking: Deepika Padukone on L&T head suggesting 90-hour work week for employees
New Delhi: Bollywood star Deepika Padukone has joined the social media discourse around L&T chairman S N Subrahmanyan's remarks about wishing to make employees work on Sundays, saying it was shocking to see such statements coming from people in top positions at companies.
In an undated video circulating on social media, Subrahmanyan is heard saying, "How long can you stare at your wife?"
"I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy, because I work on Sundays," he further said in the video.
Sharing a post about the L&T head's statement on her Instagram Stories, Padukone said, "Shocking to see people in such senior positions make such statements #mentalhealthmatter."
Subrahmanyan's comments drew criticism on social media with some questioning why highly paid CEOs with different job pressures expect the same level of commitment from less-paid employees.
Soon after, L&T issued a clarification saying the chairman's remarks were in the context of extraordinary efforts required for achieving extraordinary outcomes for the nation.
"We believe this is India's decade, a time demanding collective dedication and effort to drive progress and realise our shared vision of becoming a developed nation.
"The chairman's remarks reflect this larger ambition, emphasising that extraordinary effort," L&T spokesperson said in a brief statement.
Padukone, who has been advocating about mental well being and is also the founder of not-for-profit organisation The Live Love Laugh Foundation, posted the company's statement on Instagram and wrote, "And they just made it worse..."
The remarks by Subrahmanyan have reignited the work-life balance debate, first triggered by Infosys Co-Founder Narayana Murthy's suggestion of a 70-hour work week.
Last year, Murthy had said, "India's work productivity is one of the lowest in the world... my request is that our youngsters must say, 'this is my country, I want to work 70 hours a week'."
