50 million Indian schoolchildren still lack basic sanitation access: UN

Despite improvements in recent years, approximately 50 million schoolchildren across India remain without access to adequate sanitation facilities, according to findings from a United Nations assessment of water, sanitation and hygiene conditions in educational institutions.

The report places India among 28 countries out of 62 assessed that are positioned to achieve universal coverage of basic drinking water services in schools by the 2030 deadline set by global development goals. This progress reflects India's ongoing efforts to expand water infrastructure in educational settings across the nation.

However, the persistence of sanitation deficits underscores significant challenges that remain unresolved. The lack of proper toilet facilities and hygiene services in schools disproportionately affects students in rural areas and economically disadvantaged regions, contributing to health risks and limiting educational attendance, particularly among girls.

The UN assessment suggests that while India has made headway in addressing drinking water accessibility, accelerated investment and implementation of sanitation programmes are critical to bridge the remaining gap. Experts emphasize that adequate water and sanitation infrastructure is fundamental to creating an enabling environment for learning and protecting student health.