Students learn a thing or two about constructing toilets

S. Bharat Kumar, a fourth year civil engineering student of Kathir College of Engineering, is busy before and after college hours running around Kalapatti looking for labour. His job is to engage them for the construction of individual household toilets under the Central Government’s Swachh Bharat Mission.

Mr. Kumar as part of the construct-a-thon event involving engineering college students is in-charge of constructing 25 toilets. His job is to engage unskilled labour to dig the septic tank and masons to construct the toilet. And also supervise the work so that it is as per the Mission guidelines.

“In the process of engaging labour and supervising the work, I’m learning labour and resource management,” says the youth.

For Navashree V.R., a civil engineering student of the SNS College of Engineering, the supervisory role helps her relate to whatever she has learnt in class. “Though the on-field task is a challenge, it helps me relate what I learnt in textbooks and also understand what more is required to get a work executed.”

College professor S.L. David Anandaraj says that the assignment of supervising toilet construction will be an eye opener for the students, who will in any case take up jobs in the months to come.

There are students from PSG College of Technology, SNS College of Engineering, Kathir College of Engineering, CMS, Sri Guru and Park group of institutions who are involved in the project, say R. Raveendran and Suresh Bhandari, who are part of the construct-a-thon event involving the students.

At present, the students are supervising the construction of nearly 100 toilets, which are in various stages of development, and will soon manage 400 more, they add.

The students will report at the site on a daily basis, record everyday development in construction and upload the details using a dedicated app. Once completed, they will upload the picture of the toilet and that will help the Coimbatore Corporation release the Central and State government’s subsidies of Rs. 8,000 a toilet, they add.

State Committed to Strengthening Higher Education: Minister Viswanathan

Speaking at a meeting of Tamil Nadu's self-financing arts, science and management colleges in Coimbatore, Higher Educati...

Leopard Attack Suspected After Missing Tribal Elder Found Dead in Coimbatore

A 60-year-old tribal man who went missing in the Gopanari Reserve Forest near Periyanaickenpalayam was found dead with h...

Valparai’s Chinnakallar Tops District Rainfall Chart with 87 mm

Chinnakallar in Valparai recorded the highest rainfall of 87 mm in Coimbatore district during the last 24 hours, while C...

Anti-Narcotics Crackdown: Bihar Native Held with 4.2 kg Ganja; 14 Arrested in Coimbatore

A 26-year-old Bihar native was arrested after Coimbatore City Police seized 4.2 kg of ganja allegedly transported by tra...

Karumbukadai Witnesses Massive Anti-Drug Awareness Rally; Over 200 Students Participate

More than 200 students participated in an anti-drug awareness human chain and rally organised by the Coimbatore City Pol...

Coimbatore-Route Express Train Services to Face Temporary Delays Due to Track Renewal Works

Passengers travelling on the Alappuzha–Dhanbad Express via Coimbatore and the Ernakulam–Tatanagar Express should expect...