A project to make Thuraiyur union free of open defecation was launched on Wednesday.
To start with, the programme was inaugurated at Ammapatti village near Thuraiyur on Wednesday, marking the observance of “World Toilet Day”.
Inaugurating the scheme, T.P. Poonachi, Minister for Khadi and Rural Industries, said 220 houses out of 505 households in the village had individual toilets. Work on the construction of 285 toilets, which commenced today, would be completed by January next year.
A sum of Rs. 10,000 had been released under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, he said and appealed to the residents and the panchayat body to keep the village clean and hygienic. He assured them that all basic amenities would be provided to the village.
He said that Thuraiyur block had been selected in the first phase of the programme, as it was a backward area in the district. A service organisation, SCOPE would extend the technical expertise for the implementation of the scheme and organise awareness campaign.
Jayashree Muralidharan, District Collector, spoke on the importance of health and personal hygiene. The programme would ensure environmental protection.
Earlier, the Minister administered a pledge signifying the importance of World Toilet Day and the villagers assured to desist from open defecation.
Plastic toiletsAt a function held at the corporation office to mark the observance of the Day, A. Jaya, Mayor, gave away 100 potties to babies free of cost.
She said that 30 per cent of population in the city resorted to open defecation and the corporation had built 395 public toilets.
The city ranked sixth in terms of cleanliness at the national level and the first in the State.
V.P. Thandapani, Corporation Commissioner, said the corporation had provided toilet facility in 286 slum areas and 76 schools.
