An article in the Times of India, Chennai today reveals grim figures from the 2011 Indian census about open defecation in Tamil Nadu. 45% of the state’s population resorts to open defecation due to the lack of sanitation facilities.  The article reads “The situation is worse in rural areas where only 2% of the population is covered by the pipeline sewerage system. As a result, over 73% of rural population defecate in the open.”

Most rural village homes do not have toilet facilities and people resort to open defecation which contaminates the drinking water supply and has huge implications on the health of the entire village.  Sanitation in rural schools is also extremely dire and it is particularly problematic for young girls. This single factor has led to many girls dropping out of school.

Toilet facilities are something that we completely take for granted in the UK. The simple act of building individual home and school toilets can save lives and allow many to get an education in a safe environment.

SCAD have put in hundreds of individual toilets in Tamil Nadu. We are aiming to build another 150 this year across the 500 villages we work in.

If you would like to donate please click here (no administration charges, every penny goes directly to SCAD rural development).