School education minister Vinod Tawde has expressed concern over alarming increase in school dropout rate, especially for girls, and blamed it on absence of girl’s toilets in majority of rural schools. “Earlier, the conception was that people from rural or tribal areas did not send their girls to schools so that they can either work or look after their siblings. However, when we studied the entire problem, we came to the conclusion that absence of toilets is the main reason behind the disturbing phenomenon,” he told TOI. The minister said due to poor sanitation facilities, the girls fall sick and are forced to either work as labourer or do household chores. “The government is contemplating taking help from corporates for building toilets in villages. But these toilets would also require water and regular cleaning.”

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