Water bell in Ganjam schools from today

Berhampur: Ganjam district administration has decided to reintroduce water bell in all 3,889 govt and privately-run schools across the district from Saturday.Under the initiative, a bell will be rung every hour during school time reminding children to stop all activities and drink water, to prevent dehydration, fatigue and related health issues.

“We have asked the district education officer (DEO) to prepare a guideline and circulate it in all schools,” said collector (Ganjam) V.Keerthi Vassan. “We have also asked the DEO to have a visitors’ room for parents with availability of sufficient drinking water,” he said.DEO AK Patro said the initiative will benefit schoolchildren, who often neglect drinking adequate water. RO water facilities are available in almost all schools.

School authorities have been asked to stock ORS packets and provide it to students or parents falling ill due to the heat, said the DEO.Academicians have welcomed the decision. “The water bell initiative not only supports students’ physical well-being but also helps improve concentration and alertness among students,” said Shankar Narayan Bej, a retired block education officer (BEO).Ganjam district administration introduced the water bell initiative in 2019 in all schools. But it was discontinued after some months.