Two voluntary organisations have come together to rid a village near Pollachi of the menace of open defecation, which poses serious health hazards.
Quoting a study that out of every 10 persons in the country, only four had access to proper sanitary facilities, the organisations said Meikinnampatti near Pollachi was no exception to this problem.
The organisations have constructed toilet blocks in the village. It is designed to be completely self sustaining, with facilities for recycling water and generating energy from waste. The energy thus generated will be used for the local community kitchen, according to a press release.
Under the State Government scheme, Coimbatore Metropolitan Round Table No: 62 (CMRT) and Coimbatore Metropolitan Ladies Circle No: 23 (CMLC) contributed half the total project cost of Rs.23.75 lakh with the Government bearing the rest.
The facility, which was opened on July 5, has a block for men and one for women. It also has provisions for differently abled persons and a washing area. A fund has been created to maintain these toilets. CMRT 62 chairman Senthil Arumugan and CMLC 23 chairperson Minal Shroff took part in the inauguration.
These organisations have built classrooms, laboratories, school toilets, maternity wards in hospital and a school for special children.
