Special Cleanliness Campaign in Schools During Diwali Holidays

Deadline Until October 31

Education Department Circular Issued; Headmasters Responsible for Implementation.

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HT Correspondent 

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 Mumbai, October 18:-With the objective of ensuring cleanliness, maintenance, and safety in the state's schools, the School Education Department of Maharashtra has issued directives to conduct the "Chalo School Chale... Special School Cleanliness Campaign" during the Diwali holidays. This campaign will be implemented in two phases from October 18 to October 31, 2026. Under this, priority will be given to school cleaning, necessary repairs, and making the premises safe. In this regard, the School Education Department issued a circular from the ministry on October 16.

 First Phase (October 18 to 24): During this period, instructions have been given to organize special meetings of the school management committee to ensure the participation of teachers, parents, alumni, and the local community. Along with this, inspections of classrooms, offices, laboratories, toilets, drinking water facilities, and playgrounds will be conducted to prepare a list of necessary works.

Second Phase (October 25 to 31): Comprehensive cleaning of schools will be undertaken in this phase. This includes cleaning floors, walls, doors, windows, roofs, fans, toilets, and water tanks. Special attention will also be paid to removing garbage from the school premises, prevention of mosquitoes and pests, and proper segregation of waste. In addition, necessary repairs of electrical systems, broken furniture, and unsafe areas will be carried out.

Ban on Financial Contributions from Students:

No separate additional funds will be provided for the campaign. Expenses incurred on cleanliness and repair works will be met from the consolidated school grant received under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme. The department has clarified that no financial amount or donation of any kind can be taken from students for these works. To make the campaign effective, plans are in place to enlist the participation of public representatives, voluntary organizations, and organizations working under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Responsibility of Implementation on Headmasters:

The complete responsibility for the effective implementation of the campaign has been assigned to the headmaster of the respective school. Center heads, group education officers, district education officers, and divisional deputy directors have been instructed to review the work from time to time. Additionally, it has been made mandatory to preserve photographs before and after the campaign.

Appoint Permanent Peons in Local Body Schools:

The Maharashtra State Primary Teachers' Committee has demanded that permanent cleanliness of schools will not be achieved permanently just by running a special cleanliness campaign. Permanent peons and cleaning staff should be appointed in Zilla Parishad and Municipal Corporation schools so that daily cleanliness and maintenance of schools can be maintained regularly.