Latest news with #InternationalToiletFestival3.0
New Indian Express
06-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Udhaya hails sanitation workers
CHENNAI: Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin on Saturday participated in a sanitation awareness event held at Kalaivanar Arangam, marking the conclusion of International Toilet Festival 3.0. Udhay flagged off a toilet repair cafe vehicle, an initiative aimed at ensuring timely maintenance and repair of public toilets. He also distributed financial assistance amounting to Rs 12.79 lakh under various welfare schemes, including accident relief, natural death benefits, marriage and maternity aid, and educational support. In addition, he provided Rs 25 lakh loan assistance to sanitary workers from Kancheepuram Corporation through the Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing Development Corporation. The event also witnessed the launch of an official website of the Tamil Nadu Cleanliness Workers Welfare Board and a new 'Design toolkit' portal. Addressing 900 sanitation workers, Udhaya praised their contribution to the city's cleanliness and described them as the 'mothers of Chennai.' The event was organised by the GCC in partnership with WASH Lab, Thooimai Mission, Cheer and Recycle bin NGOs.
The Hindu
05-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Sanitary workers rendering great service to humanity, says Udhayanidhi Stalin
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Saturday lauded the efforts undertaken over the past month to promote awareness about toilet hygiene across Chennai, as part of the International Toilet Festival 3.0 and said sanitary workers were rendering a great service to humanity. Speaking at the valedictory, he said toilet hygiene was not just about cleanliness, but was essential for a disease-free life. The Deputy CM said the DMK government was committed to eradicating manual scavenging and highlighted several initiatives taken for the welfare of sanitary workers, including Annal Ambedkar Business Champions Scheme through which 100 sewage suction vehicles were distributed at a subsidised cost. Further, through the Sanitary Workers Welfare Board, the State government has provided 1,000 houses at a 90% subsidised cost to sanitary workers in Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Board tenements, he said. Mr. Udhayanidhi also distributed cheques for assistance to the tune of ₹37.79 lakh towards solatium, marriage assistance, maternity and educational aid to 30 beneficiaries. The Deputy CM also flagged-off toilet repair cafe vehicle that undertakes maintenance of toilets, visited photo exhibition and interacted with students. He also launched the official website of the Tamil Nadu Sanitary Workers Welfare Board and released hygiene related books for students from Classes 1 to 10 of Greater Chennai Corporation schools. Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments P.K. Sekarbabu, Greater Chennai Corporation Mayor R. Priya, and officials were present on the occasion.
The Hindu
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Greater Chennai Corporation hosts competitions for students and panel discussions
The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) on Friday started a two-day session as part of the International Toilet Festival 3.0 at the Kalaivanar Arangam. A student-focused festival titled 'Toilet Le Dandanakka' and the first day of the 'Loo Conclave' and 'Toilet and Sanitation Solutions Expo' was held with non-governmental organisations WASH Lab, Recycle Bin, and Cheer. 'Toilet Le Dandanakka' was held for 661 students of 124 GCC-run schools, who participated in competitions such as story writing, scrap modelling, collage making, skit performances, persona presentation and elocution on topics centred on toilets, hygiene, and sanitation. The 'Loo Conclave' featured two panel discussions — first titled 'Toilet is a wicked problem', included DMK Thousand Lights MLA Ezhilan Naganathan, Tamil Nadu Housing Board Managing Director G.S. Sameeran, and International Water Association South Asia Operations Manager Prasanna Jogdeo; and second session called 'Toilet Jamming', included Jogdeo and cleaning-tech investors, according to a press release.
The Hindu
25-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
International Toilet Festival 3.0: Chennai Corporation's ‘Toilet Walk' sparks discussions on inclusivity
At the public toilets of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) on Sunnambu Kalvai Street near Dr. Natesan Road in Triplicane, a participant of the 'Toilet Walk' found that one of the sink taps was faulty, while the rest of the facility was functioning properly. The walk was part of the Corporation's International Toilet Festival 3.0, organised in collaboration with NGOs Cheer and WashLab. Two sessions were held on Saturday (June 21, 2025): a morning walk focused on 'exploring the psychology of toilet art', and an evening roundtable discussion on 'disability as a diversified human experience'. At the end of the walk at Kandappa Ram Nagar, located nearby, many participants hesitated to sit near another public toilet. However, after an hour-long discussion held at the site, the space transformed into one of interaction rather than discomfort. Toilet art Sannuthi Suresh, a psychotherapist, and Vishnu V., a psychologist, moderated discussions on the various forms of body language people exhibit when entering public toilets. Speaking of graffiti on walls of public toilets, Mr. Vishnu explained that for families of four or five living in extremely small homes, there may be no private space to express their thoughts or emotions. In such cases, intimate and often-overlooked spaces like community toilets can become unintended outlets for expression. 'They cannot be blamed,' he said, adding, 'Instead, we need to understand and address the psychosocial factors behind such acts.' Ms. Suresh facilitated conversations around what an ideal public toilet could look like for everyone, irrespective of caste, class, community, or gender, 'given that these are spaces where one not only defecates, urinates, and bathes, but also where one might find privacy for sexual intimacy, or where violence may occur.' Referring to the broken facilities, alcohol bottles, and writings found in many toilets, discussions were also held on certain types of graffiti in men's toilets and their possible connection to patriarchy. Disability and public spaces During the roundtable meeting anchored by activist Aiswarya Rao on inclusive design for persons with disabilities (PwDs), Sathish Kumar of the Disability Rights Alliance said he wanted to travel to different places but was restricted due to a lack of support and inadequate toilet facilities. 'The public toilet of the GCC in Besant Nagar, close to a police booth, is still not universally accessible. The ones opposite the Marina Beach parking lot are better, but still not 100% accessible for all categories of PwDs,' he added. R. Sujatha, a disability rights activist, reported an incident in Kancheepuram where a 24-year-old girl died after falling into a septic tank, allegedly due to the lack of a bathroom in her office. V. Lingesh, the manager of the NGO Better World Shelter, citing an accessibility audit undertaken last year, said barring two schools, none of the buildings were barrier-free for PwDs. F. Matilda, a para-sports player, emphasised the need for policy changes to improve toilet facilities in hotels, schools, and stadiums, as athletes often struggle to access them. Mr. Vishnu, during this discussion, stressed that universally accessible spaces are not just ideal, but essential.
The Hindu
06-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
GCC's Pee Point Mapping initiative lets people point out open defecation spots
: While moving towards rethinking sanitation in the city, a month-long International Toilet Festival 3.0 has been launched by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), along with Washlab, Cheer, and Recycle Bin. Among all the projects lined up by the GCC, from conversations on sanitation and hygiene to donating toilets, the one that caught the eye of Chennai's younger crowd is the 'Pee Point Mapping' initiative. Instead of turning one's head away from open defecation and urination across the city, people can now drop the location pin and report it through an online portal, which is available till July 5, 2025. By introducing such initiatives and calls, the impact is two-fold, says a 27-year-old urban planner and artist from the city, Srishti Prabakar. 'Apart from crowdsourcing data and recording this act, it also makes people more active within their own built environment,' she said. Drawing parallels with similar platforms across Europe that have been seeing success, she added, 'You can see it creating a sense of responsibility among citizens of their neighbourhoods. While it might not solve open defecation overnight, it is getting closer to solutions,' she added. She believes that it is not about passing the baton but taking collective action. 'This is a 'see something, say something' moment for the public — that encourages one to immediately take a step ahead by mapping open defecation spots — which is why it seems important to me,' says Tharun T., a final-year BBA student. 'At the end of the campaign, I hope it actually leads to more practical and well-designed solutions, such as self-cleaning public toilets in underserved neighbourhoods. For instance, unorganised workers in construction sites do not always find accessible public toilets nearby,' says Tulsi Goyal, 24, scientific writer. 'More young people should participate in such campaigns,' she added. 'This mapping initiative is mainly done to see how we could stop these pee points through crowdsourced data. We will begin working on solutions, whether that means installing more public toilets in specific areas or taking up beautification projects,' a senior corporation official said. When contacted, Shebin, Director of Washlab, a research and development platform, clarified that it was not an awareness project. However, he said, public participation was required to see a change in society. 'Pee points are in front of our eyes as we walk the streets, yet we have learned to ignore them. But are we actually okay with this? In some areas, even with free public toilets nearby, open urination persists. A circular or new law would not fix the behaviour; what we need to do is address the root causes for a lasting change,' said Mr. Shebin. The data collected through the initiative will shape the next phase of their action. Residents can drop a WhatsApp message at 94455 51913 to participate in the campaign.
