In the Baseline Survey conducted in Krishnagiri district, it was found that 2,04,772 households were without sanitary facilities i.e. only 15% of the population in rural areas and 40% in urban areas have Individual Household Latrines (IHHL).
To achieve 100% sanitation coverage in households, school and anganwadi centres, a perspective plan was formulated. It was decided to intensify the campaign and launch a massive drive to achieve Total Sanitation with people’s participatory approach and multi sectoral convergence.

The goal is to make the district 100% sanitation safety by March’08 by launching a massive drive on a Revolutionary scale.

In March’07, on the initiative of the Collector, preliminary meetings with the participation of officers of the District Rural Development Agency, Rural Development, Revenue, Education, Social Welfare and Health departments were held twice to chalk out the strategies. Based on this a massive rally of all elected representatives from M.P. to the Panchayat Ward Members, NGOs & Govt. Staff consisting of approximately 25000 people was taken out on 07.04.07 on World Health Day. Consequently on 31.03.07, conventions, with the participation of Panchayat Presidents, District & Union Councillors, Panchayat Assistants, Village Administrative Officers, NGOs and officials of Rural Development and Revenue Departments, were held at Block level. The participants pledged to work towards attaining 100% sanitation coverage in the district. It was resolved to create Village Volunteer Forces in all Panchayats and Students Volunteer Forces in all schools with the objectives of achieving total sanitation, among others. It was also decided to converge various schemes including the UNICEF - Child Friendly Village Planning and Tamilnadu Corporation for the Development of Women Limited (TNCDW Ltd.)

To supply hollow blocks, sanitary wares and other building materials for the construction of IHHLs, 6 NGOs were sanctioned with a Revolving Fund of Rs.3.50 lakhs each to establish Rural Sanitary Marts & Production Centres and they have commenced operation.

At the Block Level, a multi-dimensional team has been formed in each block with the Extension Officer (ADW), RWOs and Block Co-ordinators of TSC, headed by the Block Development Officers (VP) to oversee the construction of toilets and speedy disbursement of subsidy to the beneficiaries

As yet another part of the drive, large information boards, depicting the number of total households and current status of the construction of IHHLs in the Panchayats and updated on monthly basis, have been erected in all the 337 Panchayats.

As part of the drive & awareness campaigns, with the participation of the Collector, PO, DRDA, BDO and other officials, District Co-ordinators, Block Co-ordinators, NGOs, Village volunteer force, are being held in all villages continuously to make the people constantly aware for the need of sanitation and best practices.
At the initiative of the Collector, monthly meetings for Panchayat Level SHG Federations, NGOs and Officials are being conducted by the Collector to keep up the momentum and monitor the progress. Each and every NGO has adopted whole villages for 100% sanitation coverage and to strive for the award of Nirmal Gram Purashkar to the Panchayat.
Likewise, the Panchayat Level Federations have resolved to make each SHG member construct IHHL.

Due to the intensive campaign, 83,026 IHHLs have so far been constructed and thousands more are in progress.

At the Block Level, Multi-dimensional teams meet once in a week to monitor and speed up the progress. At the District level, meetings for stakeholders and review of officials are both conducted by the Collector & the PO, DRDA to monitor and guide them. The Zonal Officers appointed for each block at Assistant Director Level are also monitoring and guiding the multi-dimensional teams and other stakeholders.

With 41% of the target already achieved, Krishnagiri district is progressing towards 100% sanitation and would certainly achieve it by March’08.

Courtesy. www.krishnagiri.tn.nic.in