Green scheme bats for clean sanitation

VELLORE: The Chief Minister’s Solar Powered Green House Scheme, apart from being a ‘green’ scheme, is also tipped to be a ‘clean’ scheme in Vellore. District Collector Ajay Yadav has stressed on the need for building toilets in all houses built under the scheme. In November last year, the state government issued a GO with a view to promote energy conservation. Under the CM’s green scheme, houses will have a solar-power unit, which will connect to five CFL bulbs within. The district administration, in addition to this, is subsidising the construction of toilets in each house.   Beneficiaries of the scheme have been identified as per the Below Poverty Line index. The state has planned to build 3,00,000 houses staggered as 60,000 per year in the next five years. The district plans to build 3,700 houses per year, totalling 18,500 houses in five years. Approval has already been given to 3,719 houses in the district which will be complete by April, officials say.Each beneficiary is to be given `1,08,000 apart from 300 kg of iron rods, doors, windows and 116 cement bags. The district is providing a subsidy of `3,200 for the construction of toilets. Vellore Collector Ajay Yadav says that if the house plan does not contain a lavatory, the approval for the house would be cancelled and payment stopped. In keeping with promoting use of toilets and avoiding defecating in the open, attention is being given to Integrated Sanitary Complexes for Women and construction of toilets in all anganwadis and schools, he added.Srinivasan, Project Director of the Directorate of Rural Development, says that the district is constructing 7,200 houses every year under the Indira Awaz Yojana as well, which also mandates building toilets.However, he adds, the people hesitate to use the toilets and they are often used as store-rooms instead. The reason given for this is the lack of water.The state government has sent a CD promoting the use of toilets which will be broadcast via local channels. The idea is to create awareness of the risks of spreading communicable diseases through unsanitary toilet practices during rainy weather.