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Odisha government decides to include water and wastewater management in secondary school curriculum
The government has asked the school and mass education department to collaborate with the housing and urban development department and agencies dealing with water and wastewater management and, accordingly, design the course.
The Odisha government has decided to include a chapter on water and wastewater management at the secondary level from this academic session to raise awareness about various aspects of sanitation and hygiene practices.
This decision has been driven by the frequent outbreaks of different water-borne diseases in different parts of the state that has been attributed to faecal contamination of drinking water. Experts have recommended awareness measures to avoid the outbreak.
The government has asked the school and mass education department to collaborate with the housing and urban development department and agencies dealing with water and wastewater management and, accordingly, design the course.
A housing and urban development official was quoted in a recent newspaper report,"A high-level meeting was held last month to discuss various aspects of faecal sludge and septage management when the idea to add a chapter in the classes IX and X curriculum cropped up. Officials of the school and mass education department were also present and gave their nod"
Different aspects of wastewater management will be taught at the school level, including guidelines for septage management to provide instructions on constructing right-size septic tanks, the release of wastewater, transportation of sludge in a manner that ensures that surface or groundwater is not contaminated.
Mayor of Bhubaneswar, Ananta Narayan Jena said that all-around efforts were being made to generate awareness among the citizens.
Image used for representational purpose.