Public toilets put to use, finally...

...after much effort to spread awareness about hygiene

With the joint effort of the Arghyam Association and anganwadi worker Chennamma, the villagers in the AD Colony of Mulbagal have started using the public toilets in the area.

Even though four years ago the Arghyam Association and the Town Muncipal Council constructed the public toilets to benefit the residents here, hardly people made use of this facility.

Efforts to create awareness among the villagers to use the public toilets instead of open defection proved futile.

Programme on problem

This prompted anganwadi worker Chennamma to create an awareness programme to explain the harmful effects and health hazards due to open defecation.

She interacted with the women from 1,020 households and urged them to use the public toilets. The villagers were informed that Rs 50 should be given for the maintainance of the toilets.

Eventually last year, the villagers agreed to use the toilets, bringing an end to open defaction in the area.

Maintenance

Chinnakka, a resident of the village has been assigned the responsility of maintaining the toilet. An amount of Rs 2,750 was collected as revenue. After the electricity expenses, the rest of the money is used by her to make a living.

Around 275-300 people use the toilets here daily as only ten households in the village have toilets.

Challenge

Chennamma said that it was a challenge for her to convince the villagers to use the public toilets.

“There has been a massive change in the mindset of people and this is a satisfying thing,” Chennamma said.

A resident, Varalakshmamma said, “The village owes a lot to Chennamma who has effectively discharged her duties.”

Another resident, V Sujatha, said that if she had not gone one step ahead in her work, then her efforts would not have been succesful.