Rayagada: Six government-run schools of the tribal-dominated Rayagada district have been selected for the national-level Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar competition of the Union ministry of human resource development for good water and sanitation management at the schools and its hostel premises.

Out of 40 schools, including residential schools meant for SC and ST students identified by a district-level committee for the award, the state-level committee constituted by the school and mass education department shortlisted the six schools to compete in the national competition.

"The schools which have been practicing better water and sanitation management with the available resources have been shortlisted for the national award," said Rayagada collector Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar.

The nominated schools are RSEWC Primary School in Rayagada town, Upgraded High School in Pujariguda, Residential School of Bhakuuguda and Thutibara, Upgraded High School in Jodambo and Seva Ashram School in Jurundi.

The collector said the school authorities concerned have been asked to promote safe and hygienic practices among the students at the schools and the hostels.

"Also, the students of these schools are expected to create awareness to practice better water and sanitation practices in the residents of their villages," the collector said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the initiative in 2014 to ensure that all schools across the country have access to separate functional toilets for boys and girls.

"Since the launching of the initiative, we have noticed significant improvement in sanitation facilities in tribal schools. Under the scheme, water sanitation and hygienic management is being stressed in the schools," said Muralidhar Swain, project administrator of the integrated tribal development agency in Rayagada. According to the officer, while the students were taught for better water management at the schools and to keep their surroundings clean, regular monitoring of the school was done by a district-level team.

Officials said a central team would visit the district to check water, sanitation and hygienic management at the six schools.