• Union Minister of State for Education Subhas Sarkar launched the Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar (SVP) for 2021-22.

• In order to create self-motivation and awareness about sanitation, the Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar (SVP) was first instituted by the department of school education and literacy in 2016-17.

• The Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar recognises, inspires and awards the schools who have undertaken exemplary work in the field of water, sanitation and hygiene and also provides a benchmark and roadmap for schools to make further improvements in future. 

• The SVP 2021-22 is open to all categories of schools in both rural and urban areas. 

• The schools will be assessed through an online portal and mobile app in six sub-categories: Water, Sanitation, Hand Washing with soap, Operation and Maintenance, Behaviour Change and Capacity Building and the newly added category on COVID-19 Preparedness and Response and the system will generate the overall score and rating automatically.

• Schools shall be awarded at the district, state and national level based on an internationally recognised five star rating system. Also, every school will get a certificate of participation showing the category-wise scores and overall rating of the school. This will help in promoting sustainable practices of improved hygiene schools. 

• At the national level, 40 schools will be selected for awards this year under the overall category. The award money for the schools has been enhanced this year from Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 per school, under Samagra Shiksha scheme. Also, six sub-category wise awards have been introduced for the first time, with award money of Rs 20,000 per school.

Manorama Yearbook app is now available on Google Play Store and iOS App Store