Tamil Nadu fares badly in toilet scores

Chennai: While she is undertaking various development projects and welfare measures, chief minister J. Jayal­alit­haa also faces a huge challenge that calls for her attention. In the latest census report on open defecation in various states, Tamil Nadu ranks sixth in the list of bad performers.

Seventy-three per cent of the state’s rural households resort to open defecation. The national average is 67 per cent; Madhya Pradesh is the worst state at 86 per cent, whereas Kerala has just five per cent rural population defecating in the open. Even the tiny Lakshawdeep has recorded only two per cent ‘offenders’. The national data on sanitation was discussed in Parliament on Saturday.

Sanitation experts say that most rural families considered it a waste to spend on building a toilet even while spending much more on the construction of the house. Their men and women, consequently, ch­ose open defecation.

“Sp­e­nding money to build in­dividual toilets still re­mains a major issue for most rural families. One leach-pit toilet costs Rs 12,000 to build. There are cases where toilets built with government subsidies are not used because many complain they are not user-friendly”, M Subburaman, director of NGO Scope, told DC.

He said it was hard to fight the attitude among rural households used to open defecation. “Even af­ter explaining that it’s un­hygienic, many, including the educated youth, go to the fields. It is not enough to grant funds for toilets, we must also ensure they are used”, he said.

A senior government official said a campaign was recently launched al­ong with UNICEF to sp­re­ad awareness among rural households about the ill effects of open defecation. “An innovative campaign, named chee chee chellappa, is now on across the state by way of wall po­sters and radio advertisements to explain the need to have toilet at home.

Anyone wishing to build a toilet at home will get Rs 10,200 as subsidy from the state and Central governments. This subsidy has attracted many”, he said, expressing confidence that TN will look better when the next census is taken.