Building Sanitation Facilities for Tansa Valley Schools: Restoring Dignity and Health
In the rural communities of India’s Tansa Valley, the scarcity of running water makes even the simplest acts of cleanliness a daily challenge. For local schoolchildren, the lack of adequate sanitation facilities is more than an inconvenience — it’s a barrier to health, dignity, and learning.
In many government-aided schools, toilets are either in a state of disrepair or completely absent. With no functioning handwashing stations, children cannot wash their hands before eating or after play. This gap in basic hygiene leaves them vulnerable to illness and infection, affecting attendance and academic performance.
The problem is not only about health. In schools where facilities are missing or unusable, children — especially girls — are often forced to relieve themselves in open outdoor spaces. The risks here go beyond embarrassment: open defecation increases exposure to disease, compromises safety, and erodes self-esteem.
For girls, the impact is especially severe. Many reduce their food and water intake during the school day to avoid using unsafe or non-existent facilities. This can lead to dehydration, poor concentration, and other long-term health consequences.
A Practical, Lasting Solution
PRASAD Chikitsa is addressing this challenge head-on by building hygienic, gender-separated toilets and handwashing stations in local schools. Our goal is not just to install infrastructure, but to restore dignity, improve health, and ensure that children can focus on learning instead of worrying about basic needs.
So far, we have sponsored the construction of new sanitation facilities in two schools, with three more projects underway.
Kelthan Village: A Transformation
In Kelthan village’s primary school, over 200 children and five teachers were sharing just one dilapidated toilet. This single facility meant long queues during recess and a daily struggle, especially for the girls.
With PRASAD’s support, the school now has separate toilet blocks for boys and girls, as well as a shared handwashing station. The transformation has been immediate.
Mrs. Vibha Patil, the school principal, shared:
“Before, our five teachers and nearly two hundred children were using a single, dilapidated toilet. It was very awkward, especially for the girls. The children had to stand in long lines during recess to answer nature’s call. On behalf of the entire school, I offer a big thanks for the quality of the work.”
Looking Ahead
PRASAD is committed to completing sanitation facilities in three more schools across the Tansa Valley. Each project is more than a construction effort — it is a step toward healthier children, greater attendance rates, and safer, more inclusive learning environments.
Clean, functional toilets may seem like a small thing, but for these communities, they represent a powerful shift: a move toward dignity, equity, and opportunity for every child.
Join us in this work. Together, we can ensure that no child has to choose between health and education.
School children in the Tansa Valley participate in a PRASAD Chikitsa handwashing workshop, learning simple hygiene practices that protect their health and build lifelong habits.