DW BUREAU In a rare feat, as many as 38 schools of Ludhiana District have bagged Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar-2022 after a detailed evaluation of sanitation and hygiene practices adopted by these schools by special evaluators. Conferring this Puraskar to selected schools, Deputy Commissioner Ludhiana Surabhi Malik congratulated all the winners while urging them to maintain this position in future also besides asking others to follow their footsteps. She said that it was a matter of immense pride that our 38 schools have won this precious award with six schools scoring the overall top ranking which translate into best performance of these schools in all the categories. The DC further added that the award has been given in six main categories including drinking water, toilets, behavioral change & capacity building, hand washing with soap, operation and maintenance, and Covid-19 preparedness and response. She said that the Government of India gives this award every year after an elaborate survey through evaluators at school level to make assessment of their performance in the all six categories. Further stressing such activities, she said that schools can play a pivotal role in inculcating positive approach towards sanitation and hygiene practices among children at early age so that they can emerge as good and responsible citizens. She also said that this behavioral conditioning of children would also lead to instilling love for the environment as cleanliness is also a part of environment protection. (editor@dailyworld.in)