Cleanliness survey in varsities

After the campaign to rank cities, the Centre will now turn its attention to universities and colleges to grade them on their level of hygiene. The nationwide exercise, called ‘Swachhta Ranking of the Higher Educational Institutions’, will begin in August and the results will be announced by September.

Opening the registration process for the survey, the Union HRD Ministry asked varsities and colleges to take part in the Swachhta Ranking. The institutions have time till July 31 to register.

“You are requested to ensure participation of your esteemed university and your affiliated colleges in the ‘Swachhta Ranking’ of higher institutions,” University Grants Commission secretary Jaspal S Sandhu said in a circular to Vice Chancellors, urging varsities to fill in the web-based form to register.

The survey of universities and colleges comes months after the Quality Council for India assessment called ‘Swachh Bharat Survey 2017’ graded 434 Indian cities on the basis of their cleanliness and hygiene levels.

The Centre will set up inspection teams to assess the level of cleanliness in the varsity or on college campus. The assessment will be made on two criteria: on-campus hygiene and cleanliness activities outside.

“The teams will see the condition of toilets in the hostel and other locations on the campus,” an HRD ministry official said. “It will also examine basic amenities like drinking water, besides its level of purity on the campus.”