Tamil Nadu Red Cross launches campaign to construct or rehabilitate latrines in schools and crèches in 29 villages of six districts

 

Chennai, 20th January 2009 – Today the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) Tamil Nadu State Branch launched a campaign to construct toilets in a number of schools and crèches in six districts of the State.

An initial all-day meeting was conducted with key representatives of SISSO – Sulabh International Social Service Organisation – together with IRCS partner in Tsunami recovery, the Canadian Red Cross (CRC), in order to prepare for the initial assessment at the designated schools and crèches.

“We are pleased that our partner the Canadian Red Cross is working with us on this important initiative to improve hygiene conditions for young people in parts of the Tsunami-affected area,” commented Dr. Vimala Ramalingam, Red Cross Tamil Nadu State Branch President.
 

This “toilets in schools and crèches” campaign is an integral component of the long-term partnership between Indian Red Cross and Canadian Red Cross to improve lives and livelihoods in six districts impacted by the 26 December 2004 Tsunami: Kanyakumari, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Puddukottai and Nagapattinam.

In the next two months, a combined IRCS and SISSO assessment team will fan out across the 29 villages in these six districts where CRC-supported projects are underway to determine where best to construct the Sulabh twin-pit latrine technology.