He said awareness generation on sanitation and hygiene among school children, teachers and parents can lead to behavioural change within the society.
The minister was speaking at the launch of the 'Waves of Change' programme and conferment of the first national school sanitation awards here.
Raju gave away awards to 102 schools at the event, where a logo of 'waves of change' was also unveiled.
The HRD Ministry in collaboration with CBSE and Deutsche Gesellschaft Fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit instituted the awards to inculcate good sanitation habits among school children in order to acquaint, inspire and celebrate excellence in school sanitation.
The awards encourage schools to lay emphasis on personal hygiene, proper sanitation facilities, clean toilet habits, separate toilets for girl students, waste segregation and composting.
Waves of change highlights 'education beyond books' and celebrates excellence through scholastic and co-scholastic learning and shaping of life skills.