New Delhi: Seventeen teachers from across India have been selected as the National Top 17 for NDTV’s Dettol Banega Swasth India Teachers’ Awards 2026. The teachers have been recognised for their work in promoting good health, cleanliness, hygiene and environmental awareness among students. The awards focus on teachers who are helping children develop healthy habits that they can follow in their everyday lives. They also aim to encourage students, parents and local communities to take part in cleanliness and health-related activities beyond the classroom. The awards are not only about one-time activities. The teachers are being recognised for work that helps students follow healthy habits regularly. This includes practices related to handwashing, cleanliness, sanitation and keeping school surroundings clean and green.
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List Of Winners
M. Karunagaran
He improved toilet maintenance and waste management at the school. He formed student groups, involved people from the community and introduced monthly checks and water audits to keep the system running. The work benefited 251-500 students.
Tsering Wangmo
She replaced a dry toilet with two usable toilets and encouraged students to follow better hygiene practices. She also involved families and community organisations in maintaining cleanliness and improving sanitation around the school.
R. Lalramsiami
She used books in the Mizo language and practical activities to teach students about cleanliness. She also involved the Eco Club, families, government bodies, organisations and a local church. Her work reached students as well as more than 1,000 people in the community.
Niyati Chitkara
She introduced a school-wide hygiene programme led by students. It included handwashing, menstrual hygiene, disease prevention, waste management and planting. More than 1,000 students took part, while families also helped students follow these habits at home.
Sushma Tamang
She organised counselling sessions and worked with the community to raise funds for health-related activities. She involved students in recycling, making eco-bricks, testing water and daily cleaning. More than 1,000 students and community members benefited from the initiative, including better support for girls during their periods.
Omprakash Mishra
He installed a solar-powered water purification system and built three toilets, including one that could be used by people with disabilities. He also installed handwashing stations across the school. The facilities benefited 251-500 students.
Bellinda Kharsati
She gave students specific cleaning responsibilities and extended the practice to the village. The waste collected was also used to make manure for a women’s group. The initiative reached 101-250 students and members of the local community.
Vijay Prasad Bhatt
He worked with the school community to improve classrooms, toilets, flooring, a kitchen shed and other facilities. He also helped create a nutrition garden. According to the award application, attendance increased to 96%, while regular hygiene and handwashing practices reached nearly 90%.
Rupak Roy Choudhury
He improved sanitation facilities and trained students and teachers in menstrual hygiene and the use of sanitary-pad machines. He also demonstrated proper handwashing and supported sanitation clubs and community activities. More than 1,000 students and teachers benefited from the programme.
Geeta Kumari
She donated land for school development and worked with the Gram Panchayat and the local community to improve facilities. She presented the school toilet as an “Ijjat Ghar”, with the aim of improving safety and access to sanitation, especially for girls. More than 1,000 students benefited from the work.
Changamayum Damayanti Devi
She used demonstrations, regular checks and reminders from students to encourage handwashing and proper use of toilets and dustbins. Students were also encouraged to collect litter and remind their classmates about cleanliness. The initiative reached 251-500 students.
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Anjaly Saxena
She started a student-led menstrual health club, a pad bank and a sanitary-pad incinerator. Teachers, parents and members of the Child Cabinet also helped promote handwashing and personal hygiene. Around 1,000 students, parents and teachers benefited from the initiative.
B. Neelaiah
He used a chess activity to teach students about the impact of littering. He later organised beach-cleaning drives with students, families, local authorities and an organisation. The initiative helped 101-250 students and community members understand the impact of plastic waste.
Anjali Raina
She started conversations with girls and their families about menstrual health. She formed student groups, organised awareness campaigns and provided sanitary pads along with guidance on their use. The initiative benefited 251-500 students and encouraged families and school leaders to offer more support.
Bhavini Dineshbhai Desai
She used 12 different activities to promote cleanliness. She created student groups to monitor hygiene and involved families, teachers, school leaders and local authorities. More than 1,000 students adopted regular habits such as using soap and putting waste in dustbins.
Nzangbeni Lotha
She provided students with regular, age-appropriate lessons on health and hygiene. She involved parents and school leaders and helped students build a sanitiser stand. She also secured community support for a sanitary-pad incinerator. The initiative benefited 251-500 students.
Satyapal Singh
He organised health sessions, medical check-ups, deworming and nutrition activities for students. He also introduced yoga, cleanliness drives, tree planting and school gardens. Students, teachers and parents worked together to encourage healthier habits and greater environmental awareness.
Dettol Banega Swasth India has been running for more than 12 years. It has worked with more than 1 million schools and reached over 54 million children through the Dettol Hygiene Olympiad. It also says its initiatives have driven more than 43 billion handwashing occasions.
