Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jan 15: The director of the PM-Poshan scheme in Karnataka has issued a circular directing all government, aided and unaided schools to introduce water bells to encourage students to drink water regularly.

However, the order comes amid a glaring mismatch with reality, as official data from the department of school education and literacy shows that 61 schools in the state lack drinking water facilities, while 170 schools do not have proper toilet facilities.

The circular, issued on Wednesday, stated: “The water bell will remind children to drink water frequently, which in turn will help improve metabolism, hydration and other health factors. It has to be strictly implemented in the government, aided and unaided schools for students studying in classes from LKG to 10.”

Shashidhar Kosambe, president of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR), said: “When I visited several schools in the state, I noticed that students drank less water for various reasons. After discussing it with teachers, I wrote to the education department and the PM-Poshan department, suggesting the introduction of water bells in schools to remind children to consume water.”

This move has sparked debate about implementing health initiatives in schools that still struggle to provide basic drinking water and sanitation facilities.