At BSS Girls High School, the toilets have been recently renovated and a sweeper has been employed for regular cleaning.

No wonder all 626 girls of the school are happy to attend classes everyday.

At a time when Jharkhand High Court has passed strictures against the state government for not being able to set up clean toilets in schools, this Dhanbad cradle, around a kilometre from the district headquarters, has achieved the seemingly impossible by deciding to solve its own problems.

Some would call that initiative, a throwback to the adage, self help is the best help.

Without waiting for funds from the state, an excuse used by most schools to explain why they hadn't been able to build or maintain toilets, BSS high school decided to use a part of its development fund, collected from parents, for undertaking much-needed renovation of its four toilets.

"The condition of our toilets were bad in 2013 as the roof had leaks and the walls were damp. But, instead of waiting for the government funds we chose to dip into our scholar fund (a portion of the school fees collected for creating amenities) to renovate the toilets by laying tiles on the floor and changing the fittings wherever required," explained headmaster Jawahar Lal Thakur.

All the toilets, he was proud to tell The Telegraph, had round-the-clock water supply to ensure students weren't inconvenienced.

The school with a two-storey building was established in 1977. It has 15 rooms in all, including five classrooms to accommodate 626 students on its rolls.

"We have a fifth toilet meant for teaching and non teaching staff," said Thakur, adding that although the four toilets were sufficient for the students, it would have been better if there were two more toilets.

Nevertheless, the renovation of the toilets carried out at a cost of Rs 30,000, has come as boon for the girls.

Bhavna Kumari, a Class IX student, couldn't help but smile.

"Our toilets are as clean as the toilets at our home and we never felt the need to skip classes due to dirty toilets," said the daughter of Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) employee Raman Mishra.

A non-teaching staff member revealed that the school had hired the services of a sweeper. "The sweeper ensures regular cleaning of the toilets as sanitation is of topmost priority to the school management," he said.

However, the official highlighted the need for a full-fledged toilet with a bathing area, as the school, situated in the district headquarters, was often required to host guests coming in for district-level seminars and conferences organised by the district education department.

"These people need to stay in the school for long hours. Hence, a bathroom-cum-toilet can help address this need," he said, adding that the school had sufficient water because of a 5,000 litre overhead water tank.

Can more schools follow this Dhanbad example? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com