Children show parents way to sanitation with zero waste toilets

Published on August 29, 2013 04:24 by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Non Profit

In the revolution of ridding India of open defecation, several children in Tamil Nadu have taken up the challenge and brought about a change by introducing Ecosan toilet training for their parents.

Over 120 zero waste toilets, with attached incinerators to burn soiled napkins, were built in Krishnagiri in the last three years with funds from Unicef, the TN government and the Union ministry after children convinced their parents to use green toilets. Now, many more green toilets have been built across TN because of the campaign taken up by the children.

After the Ecosan toilet was built in the Thimmapuram government high school (TGHS) in 2009, students used it and urged their parents to build the same at home.

Take the case of Ramu and Lakshmi, twin girl children aged 14, who influenced their parents to use the Ecosan toilet last year.

"First, our parents hesitated. They preferred to go to the bushes. But when we insisted that we wanted a toilet, they approached our school and learnt about the scheme. Now, our mother, Sathiyavani, and father, Ramesh, are proud that we have a green toilet at home," said the twins.

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