HCL Foundation with WASHi & Madurai Corporation to make Madurai an open defecation free city

HCL Foundation, WASHi and Madurai Corporation, entered into Memorandum of Understanding to jointly implement the provision of Individual House-hold Toilets (IHHLs) under Public-Private-Partnership mode in Madurai. The program was organized to mark the official dedication and handing over of the toilets to the beneficiaries in 4 wards at Vandiyur Bus-stand in Madurai on 6th January.

With the support of HCL Foundation, the project is planned to provide an integrated solution to Sanitation and Hygiene problems in Madurai City under ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’. The project uses community led ‘Total Sanitation’ approach wherein behavioural change is the key aspect. WASH Institute will also work in coordination with Madurai Corporation to create awareness among the target communities for household sanitation and to facilitate the families to construct and use sanitary household toilet, thereby creating an open defecation-free Madurai.

As part of the initiative, HCL volunteers in Madurai will also kick start the “Maasilla Madurai Campaign” (Mission Clean Madurai) on the occasion. The campaign will comprise a series of activities, seminars, workshops, street theatre, talks, and other programmes to empower the community to achieve the mission.

The Madurai City Municipal Corporation consists of 100 wards. Households lack access to household toilet and defecate in open. In the current financial year, the Madurai Corporation has a target to construct 4,382 Individual House-Hold Latrines (IHHLs).