Healthy hydration a cardinal right of schoolchildren

Availability of potable water is not at all an issue in private schools. But the problem is grave in the government schools which lack proper infrastructure owing to lack of funds. Taking concrete action to ensure water hygiene is the need of the hour. Now-a-days, a trend has been observed wherein the NRIs adopt a particular government school and make resources available to upgrade the school. Such philanthropic NRIs can be of great help in providing water purifiers as well as other items of basic necessity to all the schools lacking infrastructure. Even some NGOs can be roped in for this noble cause. Water is one of the basic necessities of life. So even the principals of the concerned schools can motivate the other staff members to contribute and collect money to install RO systems in their schools. 

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi

Maintenance of water dispensers required

Students spend a significant portion of their day in school so it becomes very important for them to have access to safe drinking water for cognition, dental and physical health. Drinking water being provided by government or private schools has not been regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act and state laws and regulations. Capacity (the ability to do something), and finance are the main factors behind the non-availability of safe drinking water in most of the schools, in the city. Although RO systems are there in some educational institutions but they are not being maintained timely. To achieve that target, each school must have an access to quality tap water. Schools need national consensus on testing protocols. 

RAVI CHANDER GARG

Filtered water to ensure healthy habits

The contaminated water in the city triggers a variety of diseases. This is a major concern hindering the availability of water to people. It is advisable for schools to have potable water which is filtered so that they can live a healthy life. Schools must provide clean filtered water for their better future. Education alone is not sufficient to ensure learning among the future generation.

Laveena Sharma

Public funding also to serve the purpose

 In schools, when tap water may not be safe to drink, authorities should ensure drinking water to students in various other ways, which includes installation of filters or water coolers.  Adequate hydration may also improve cognitive function in children and adolescents. Schools and districts must comply with provisions under USDA's Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) which requires free, potable water to be provided in the cafeteria during breakfast and lunch. Schools should also go beyond HHFKA by ensuring that drinking water is truly accessible to students. State school nutrition regulations may be a key policy mechanism for implementing these water promotion activities. Public funding to support these efforts should be considered.  

Chestta Gumber

Need for effective access to water

Safe and clean drinking water is necessary for everyone. As in all schools, there are water taps and coolers installed, but due to the absence of any proper maintenance, they are non-functional. Water is not hygienic to be consumed by the children. The school authorities have to ensure that schools have child-friendly water and sanitation services.

Pooja Goswami

Fine the school authorities for laxity

There should be a corporation in every city to keep a check on the water services being provided in the institutions. The duty of the corporation should be to ensure the cleanliness and purity of potable water by conducting regular checks. This corporation should check the maintenance of the water filters installed by the institution. If any institution is found serving dirty water, the management should be fined accordingly. 

Veerinderpreet Singh

Timely service of filters needed

 Filters that have been installed in the schools should be checked timely. To ensure the purity of water, these filters should be serviced on time. Filters need to be cleaned when at regular intervals. Clean utensils should be used in schools. These utensils should be washed after every use. 

Vidit Goyal

Accurate, truthful nutrition labels must

Consumers have the right to know what they are eating or drinking. Providing consumers with nutritional information enables them to monitor their diet and maintain healthiness. Nutritional information will ensure quality and communication between industries and consumers will be strengthened. The information regarding the serving size, calories, fat and energy should be there. Government leadership in food regulation is key to ensure all companies' policies are aligned. Even the World Health Organization (WHO) clearly links marketing of foods high in sugar, salt etc. with the childhood obesity. So the nutritional information will help to keep a check on this. So helping consumers to make healthier choices can only be achieved if we understand how our food environment influences dietary habits.

Dr Jasdeep Kaur

Judge, compare, choose right foodstuff 

An informed food choice is all about right food consumption. It is a choice that should be made by keeping health aspects in mind. The aim of disclosing information is to increase the transparency of food market which is believed to enable consumers to judge, compare and choose foodstuff according to the values and preferences they find relevant. More informed food choices will result in a healthier lifestyle.

Manpreet Kaur

Advertisement to affect consumer behaviour  

Right to information is each and every consumer's right and they should be made aware of what they consume. Now-a-days, people consume products after getting influenced by social media advertisements, without getting into the details of the ingredients. Nutrient labelling can help people suffering from health issues such as diabetes, wheat allergy and thyroid. They should get the details of whatever they consume and the information on the packages should be provided not only in English and Hindi, but also in local language.

Akanksha Attri

Carry water bottles to prevent dehydration

The scorching heat days are on their way. In such a scenario, it becomes very essential to keep oneself adequately hydrated. For school-going children, carrying a handy water bottle to school should be made mandatory. The school authorities must provide portable water bottles to students which can be charged from their school fee. This will ensure that every student remains hydrated and not let the sun wilt their bodies.

Preetika Mehta

Make water bottles available in canteens

As the summer season is approaching near, it's very important to ensure that the students are hydrated. It gets tough to carry water bottles for everyone so there should be water coolers installed in school premises, school authorities should keep a check that fresh mineral water bottles are available in canteens too.

Dr G Dev

Civic bodies to play an active role

There are many government schools where there is no facility of clean drinking water. Students of these schools lack this basic facility. The government should make appropriate arrangements for this. Taps should be in clean and hygienic condition. Filtration system should be there. Students should be forced to carry water bottles. Civic bodies should continuously visit schools and keep a check on this.

Ritu Priya

Multi-pronged strategy required

Water is the elixir of life. Under the Clean Water Act, water is to be provided for free to all students in schools. But the sorry state of affairs is such that majority of the schools have intermittent water supply. Government should take the initiative of providing safe and clean water through bottles, water tanks, earthen pots and taps. Schools should use a variety of strategies to ensure that water tanks are clean and safe to drink. Hydrating with tap water is more than a healthy choice. Potable water should be made available to children at no charge. Hygienic and pure water is the need of the hour. There are various schools where there is a lack of pure and healthy water. So, the school authorities must give importance to provide safe and clean water to the students

MANRAJ KAUR

Install quality water purifiers

The arrival of summers calls for the need to keep oneself hydrated. For this, schools must install water purifiers to ensure potable water to the children. These purifiers segregate lead and copper like metals which act as an obstruction in a child's development.

Krishna

Water a healthy alternative to beverages

 Providing access to drinking water gives students a healthy alternative to sugar-sweetened beverages. It helps to increase students' overall water consumption, maintain hydration, and reduce energy intake if substituted for sugar-sweetened beverages. Adequate hydration improves cognitive function in children and adolescents. Drinking water, if fluoridated, also plays an eminent role in preventing dental cavities. Schools should use a variety of strategies to ensure that water fountains are clean and properly maintained. Allow students to have water bottles in class or to go to the water fountain if they need to drink water.

Jaspreet kaur

Access to water a basic right of children

Drinking water dispenser system should be installed to ensure safety in storage and handling. Schools should have their own well. Aerators should be installed on taps. Rainwater tanks should be installed. Guidance should be provided to ensure that schoolchildren get adequate access to water - one of the most basic requirements for health and well-being. 

Vishali Kalra

Schools to have adequate resources

Potable or safe drinking water is essential for the health of all the children. Impurities present in the water source can increase the risk of certain cancers. To make drinking water more secure, schools can test the quality of drinking water and fix the issues. For data on testing programmes, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created guidance for schools. It is called 3Ts for reducing lead in drinking water in schools. Although it is mandatory for all schools to have safe drinking water certificate issued by CMO, parents should be made aware to ensure the validity of the same. To achieve this goal, we need national consensus on testing protocols and an action level to ensure that schools have the resources, both financial and technical know-how, to assess and improve school water quality. 

Shubhangi Sofat

Spearhead campaign for safe drinking water

Availability of free and safe water during school hours is vital to the health and learning of students. Children spend substantial time in school grounds, so there is a need to spearhead the campaign for drinking water. It is important to make water accessible to children so as to make sure that they take adequate and regular fluids. Initially, the school drinking water needs assessment checklist and planning guide. Also, each school should have one or more fountains for every 25 students. Schools should offer water delivery options other than traditional fountains (such as bottle-filling stations and pitchers) School authorities must provide water that is safe, clean, cold and palatable. 

KAMALDEEP KAUR

Hold school authorities accountable

Providing safe drinking water to students and staff is the primary responsibility of the school. State drinking water programmes are required to complete a drinking water source assessment for all schools. The government should form a team of responsible officials who will go for inspection in different schools and check the availability of the supply of potable water in schools. 

Khushboo Singla

Access to WASH facilities

In the modern era, some schools still lack a basic service of availability of potable water. This is a cardinal right of a child. Water sanitation creates an environment that secures the health of a child. Its availability can probably be ensured by installing dispensable water systems. Basic water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services should be followed by all schools.  

Ishita Katyal

Levy fine for excess wastage of water

Potable water or drinking water is the right of everyone. But it is disheartening to see that more of water is wasted rather than been conserved. For this, the authorities should check water samples regularly. Secondly, excessive wastage of water should be controlled by levying fines on it and channelising the same to provide water in the schools.  

Neha Jindal

Well-equipped labs to test contaminated water 

The first action needed to ensure availability of potable water in schools is to ensure supply of safe water in the school premises either through the municipal supply source or school's own arrangement, such as installation of tube-well. The schools must ensure that the water supplied to children is not contaminated and preferably treated through RO before being supplied to students. The schools must get the water supplied tested regularly through government water testing laboratories and ensure supply of safe water only. Another step to be taken by school authorities is to convince the children that they must bring their own water bottle from their homes and use that safe water during the school hours.

Dr G Dev

Schools should maintain  cleanliness

Potable water means safe drinking water. Proper check must be maintained by school authorities. Schools must provide water bottles to the children. Proper cleanliness must be maintained as lack of fluid intake can affect their attention spans and concentration level. Safety of the children must be important function of the schools as availability of water and sanitation facilities is directly linked to the educational achievements of the students.

Manpriya Kaur

Do not rely on tap water                   

School are the second home of students. And it is very important that it provides all the basic needs for the students. So it is very important for schools to provide a safe and healthy environment for their students. There should be adequate facilities to ensure portable water in schools. It is not possible to rely on tap water in schools. This reminds one of an instance at GD Goenka School in Delhi where hours of practice for the march past took the life of a child who died on the spot due to dehydration. To promote safe drinking water in schools, it is not possible to rely on tap water as it is laden with lead.  As the summer season is approaching, it's very important to ensure that the students are adequately hydrated. It gets tough to carry water bottles for everyone so there should be water coolers installed in school premises, school authorities should keep a check that fresh mineral water bottles are available at canteens too, so that students don't panic.

Rupinder Kaur

Make water bottles available in canteens

As the summer season is approaching near, it's very important to ensure that the students are hydrated. It gets tough to carry water bottles for everyone so there should be water coolers installed in school premises, school authorities should keep a check that fresh mineral water bottles are available at canteens too, so that students have access to safe drinking water.

EkamBir Singh

Check on absenteeism

Availability of potable water in schools will ultimately lead to a lesser number of absentees in the school. It will affect their scores. Chil