PONDICHERRY: Members of the Kadal Paravai self-help group in Anumanthai Kuppam village have taken an initiative to construct toilets in their area. With help from Palmyra, an NGO, and technical guidance and financial assistance from AuroAnnam of Auroville, the women have also contributed towards construction of toilets in their village.

Palmyra formed the SHG after the tsunami. "Construction activity is almost over in Anumanthai Kuppam. Though initially only 22 women came forward to construct toilets, the remaining 18 have now joined the effort," says Dhanam of Palmyra.

"Not just in this village, such ecological-sanitary units are being constructed in a few more villages, including Periya Mudaliarchavady. Water consumption is very low in these toilets. Eco sanitation is one of the sustainable technologies that are available for providing sanitation in rural areas and it is being put very effectively into practice by SCOPE, an NGO in Tiruchi area", says Lucas of AuroAnnam.

A doctor by profession, Mr. Lucas says though the composting is a very rustic approach to ecological sanitation, it is very successful and appropriate. "Any doctor, who has worked in a village will know that lack of proper sanitation is a major problem and that it affects the health of the people," he adds.

Recently, film director L.V. Adhavan released a CD of a short film "Muthalidam" on the ecological sanitation project. The film will educate people in rural areas about the use of ecological sanitation.

AuroAnnam and Yatra Multimedia of Auroville have made the 28-minute long short film, which is in a story format.

"It talks about how a village is affected by lack of toilets. Director Adhavan has played the role of a father in this short film, which has only four main characters including a hero, a heroine, who is a school teacher and the father, who is a panchayat president. We wanted the story line to be as simple as possible so that it would reach the masses", says Srini, who has written and directed the short film.

Short films

Till now Yatra Multimedia has produced about 20 short films on various topics including AIDS, nutrition, polio, and sanitation.

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