By: Prerna Bharti
The slogan “Cleanliness is Service” has stepped beyond government walls and onto the ground in Meerut, thanks to a unique initiative by the national NGO Betiyan Foundation. Founded by social activist Jyotsna Jain, the organisation has launched a transformative sanitation campaign titled “Remove the Box – Bring Cleanliness” at Ismail Girls National Inter College, Shastri Nagar.
A Step Toward Hygiene and Dignity
Under the leadership of District President Radhika Atri, the foundation installed four modern toilets and shower units within the school premises.
This effort aims to strengthen basic hygiene infrastructure for girl students and create greater awareness about health and cleanliness.
In many government and private schools, outdated “box-style” toilets, unhygienic and unsafe, remain in use. Betiyan Foundation decided to confront this challenge head-on, beginning with one of Meerut’s most reputed girls’ institutions.
“We believe our daughters are the nation’s future. If schools lack basic sanitation, their education and health both suffer,” said Radhika Atri, calling the initiative a “meaningful step toward empowerment through cleanliness.” The Dehradun chapter of the foundation also played a vital supporting role in the project.
Collective Effort Behind the Mission
Several key members contributed to the initiative, including District President Geeta Singh, Vice President Neena Gupta, and Vice Advisor Ritu Agrawal.
While Geeta Singh emphasised the campaign’s collective spirit, “Cleanliness is a shared responsibility; every girl deserves dignity at school”, Neena Gupta helped mobilise local resources, and Ritu Agrawal designed the operational framework for the drive.
During the program, students and teachers actively participated, expressing gratitude to the foundation. The school principal remarked, “These facilities were long overdue. Now our girls will attend school confidently and focus on their studies without hesitation.”
Beyond Toilets: Building Awareness
The campaign went further than infrastructure upgrades. The foundation organised awareness sessions for students on menstrual hygiene, the use of sanitary napkins, proper handwashing practices, and maintenance of clean toilets.
The focus, organisers said, was to turn cleanliness into a habit, not a one-day activity.
Aligned with the Swachh Bharat Vision
Betiyan Foundation’s initiative aligns closely with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachh Bharat Mission, reinforcing the government’s call for sustainable cleanliness at the community level.
According to Atri, this project is only the first phase; similar sanitation upgrades will soon be extended to other educational institutions across Meerut and nearby regions.
“Cleanliness is not an optional act,” she said. “It is an essential part of life, especially for our daughters, whose education, confidence, and health depend on a clean and dignified environment.”
Spreading Awareness Across North India
The success of the “Remove the Box – Bring Cleanliness” campaign is already resonating beyond Meerut, inspiring schools and local organisations across North India to take up similar initiatives.
With hundreds of girls now studying in cleaner, safer surroundings, the movement sends out a powerful message: cleanliness empowers education.
