Coimbatore : The August of 2019 marked a new dawn for those residing in the hamlets of Dhoomanur and Chembukkarai. After spending an eternity there, it was only this month that the 127 ration card holders of the hamlets are being provided with the basic necessity of having their own individual toilets for the first time in their lives.
Coimbatore : The August of 2019 marked a new dawn for those residing in the hamlets of Dhoomanur and Chembukkarai. After spending an eternity there, it was only this month that the 127 ration card holders of the hamlets are being provided with the basic necessity of having their own individual toilets for the first time in their lives.
The residents of the hamlets who have been defecating in the open will finally be able to use toilets as 44 individual household toilets are to be constructed, which are jointly sponsored by the Swachh Bharath Mission and Rotary Club Coimbatore Central (RCCC).
While 13 toilets are to be constructed in Chembukkarai, 31 toilets have been allotted for Dhoomanur. On Wednesday, a ground breaking ceremony was held involving village heads and representatives of the RCCC.
“The beneficiaries will be getting Rs. 12,000 from the Government through the scheme. However, this money would not be enough for them to construct a fully-furnished toilet,” said P S Sitaraman, the President of RCCC. "In order to make their dreams come true, RCCC is sponsoring the remaining sum of Rs. 5000 or more, based on requirements for each beneficiary. In addition, we are also planning to fit the toilets with tiles in order to keep the toilets clean,” added P S Sitaraman.
Situated around 28 km from the City, the hamlets along with the Kaattusalai (Milagayampathi) settlement had earlier been cut off from many benefits because of lack of access inside the Thadagam Reserve Forest. "Despite so many people living inside, there are numerous practical difficulties in bringing about any development in the hamlets. They are situated deep inside the Reserve Forest and transporting raw materials becomes a difficulty,” informed G P N Joshua, a social activist from Anaikatti.
Joshua further added that the Green Houses Project that began three years ago has not been completed yet because of such issues. “Individual toilets are a dire need for these hamlet dwellers as they live in a landscape dominated by wild animals. They risk their lives each time they go out to ease themselves in the open,” he said.
Notably, the hamlets have been receiving favour from officials recently and have been granted first-time schemes including uninterrupted electricity connection, new roads and Green Houses. However, it is the delay in implementation that is worrying the residents. D. Mayilan, a resident of Dhoomanur urged officials to complete construction soon and not have it dragged on like the Green Houses Project.
RCCC had earlier sponsored individual toilets for the residents of Kondanur. They have also planned to sponsor a 1500 sq.ft. community hall at a cost of Rs. 7 lakhs at the hamlet of Panappali in the Anaikatti hills.