Yadava College here has launched a campaign, WaSH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), with a message that cleanliness leads to good health.
In coordination with National Council for Science and Technology Communication, New Delhi, the college organised a State-level exhibition for students of schools and colleges on the theme ‘Eco and WaSH’ on its campus on Saturday.
S. Ingersol, Group Director, ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri, said, “We are proud of our country’s achievements in science and technology. But all that will be offset, if we don’t have good health. So, maintaining hygiene everywhere is important.”
Expressing concern over dumping of physical, chemical, biological and pathological wastes in waterbodies, Dr. Ingersol said water contamination was the prime cause of disease outbreak. “Don’t think that water will be available forever. If we have to drink at least three litres of water a day, we must protect the water sources,” he said.
P.S. Navaraj, Principal, Annai Fathima College, said the practice of open defecation must be put to an end.
P. Alagesan, coordinator, Internal Quality Assurance Cell, Yadava College, exhorted the students to think differently while taking part in an expo.
S. Dhanasekaran, Principal (in-charge), said Yadava College had adopted two nearby villages — Tiruppalai and Veerapandi — where awareness programmes on ecology and water were conducted in the form of folk arts.
K. Neethirajan, Dean, Academic Affairs, N. Arumuganainar, PA (General) to Collector, and N. Yasothkumar, principal investigator, Eco and WaSH Futures, spoke.