Class VI student makes efforts to tutor kids on hygiene

Rajni Ojha, student of Class VI makes sure that students of her school cut their nails cut properly and drinking water is provided to the students hygienically.

Rajini is secretary of Jagmag Sena, a children club on hygiene and sanitation in a Government school at Tarawata village of Guna district.Jagmag Sena is part of a project, being implemented in 25 schools of Guna by the district administration with support from UNICEF for Madhya Pradesh. To implement this project UNICEF has also engaged an NGO Vaibhvari, which is working with teachers and children of Government schools in Guna to bring in child-to-child communication, to increased awareness on issue of hygiene and sanitation among children.

Jagmag Sena is a group of 10 children (5 girls and 5 boys) who monitor the usage of toilet facilities, washing hands, safe drinking water and other personal hygiene issues in a school. Jagmag Sena has developed a monitoring chart, which consists of the above-mentioned issues and has been painted on the wall. The member of the Jagmag Sena fill the number of children practicing safe hygiene daily. The Sena has also developed a song through which they display their concern over safe hygiene practices which motivates others to follow the same.

Programme Manager UNICEF Office for Madhya Pradesh Manish Mathur said that it was heartening to meet those children who are helping to create a positive environment in schools towards healthy behavior. They not only understand the criticality of personal hygiene and clean surroundings; they practice and demonstrate correct behavior for other children to follow.

RK Mishra, Deputy Director Rural Development Department Guna district said that the children are like messengers to the society and their families, therefore, this awareness technique has been conceived. He also said that the main aim is to change the habits and behaviour of the children towards hygiene and sanitation. “We will continue the awareness programme for the next two years so that the results can easily be seen among them,” he added