Delhi Government Schools: Health Clinics Remain Non-Operational After Three Years, RTI Reveals
More than three years after the launch of a pilot project aimed at providing healthcare services to students in Delhi’s government schools, a significant number of these facilities are still not functioning. According to information obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 12 out of 20 health clinics established in 2022 have yet to begin operations.
The revelation has raised serious concerns about the welfare of students in the capital’s public education system. The clinics were intended to offer regular health check-ups, outpatient department (OPD) services, first aid, and essential medicines to schoolchildren.
Background of the Initiative
The health clinic project was introduced in 2022 as a collaborative effort between the Delhi government and BSES. The initiative was formally launched by the then Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and the then Health Minister Satyendra Jain. The plan targeted the selection of 20 schools across South, West, East, and Central Delhi for the pilot phase.
Under the programme’s guidelines, all enrolled students were to undergo a complete health screening within the first three months. The model was designed as a comprehensive care framework, with specialist doctors responsible for treating identified ailments. The entire process, from initial diagnosis to final treatment, was to be closely monitored to ensure quality care.
Beyond physical health, the project also aimed to provide mental and emotional well-being support to students in government schools. The clinics were meant to serve as one-stop facilities where children could receive holistic healthcare without having to leave their school premises.
RTI Findings and Current Status
Information obtained through an RTI application filed with the Directorate of Education has shed light on the current state of these facilities. The data reveals that despite the passage of three years, a majority of the clinics remain non-operational.
According to Shalini Verma, head of the School Health Scheme under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the directorate handed over 20 portacabins for the school health scheme on July 6, 2022. Two days later, on July 8, 2022, the necessary medical staff was appointed for these 20 health clinics, including:
- Seven MBBS doctors
- 20 Public Health Nursing Officers (PHNOs)
- 20 Nursing Officers
However, despite these appointments, the ground reality tells a different story. Several schools have confirmed that while the clinic infrastructure was created, the facilities have never been activated.
Schools Affected and Reasons for Non-Functioning
Among the schools where clinics remain non-operational are the Government Co-Educational Senior Secondary School in Rani Bagh and the Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya in Anandwas. Both institutions have stated that although the clinic spaces were constructed, they have not yet been made functional.
Similar situations prevail at several other institutions, including:
- Rajkiya Sarvodaya Vidyalaya in Chandpur Majra
- Government Co-Educational Senior Secondary School in Shakurpur
- Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya in Karala
- Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya in Wazirpur JJ Colony
School authorities at these locations have cited a shortage of doctors, nursing officers, and essential staff as the primary reason for the clinics remaining closed. In two additional schools where clinics were constructed, no information was provided regarding their operational status.
Concerns Over Student Healthcare
The prolonged delay in activating these clinics raises serious questions about the commitment to student welfare in Delhi’s government schools. With thousands of children depending on these facilities for basic healthcare services, the continued non-functioning of the clinics represents a significant gap in service delivery.
The situation is particularly concerning given that the project was designed to provide comprehensive care, including specialist consultations and mental health support. Students who were supposed to benefit from regular health screenings and timely medical interventions continue to lack access to these essential services.
The RTI response has highlighted systemic issues in the implementation of the programme, particularly regarding staffing and administrative follow-through. While the infrastructure was created and staff initially appointed, the lack of sustained attention and resource allocation has rendered the initiative largely ineffective.
As students continue their education in these schools, the absence of functional health clinics means that minor health issues may go undetected, potentially escalating into more serious conditions. The failure to operationalise these facilities also undermines the broader goal of ensuring that every child in the government school system has access to quality healthcare.
