On the Ground

Poverty, lack of water and sanitation infrastructure, and climate vulnerability.

Perundurai, located in the state of Tamil Nadu, is a socioeconomically disadvantaged area in need of targeted interventions to improve living conditions. Many schools continue to face critical challenges such as unsafe water supply and inadequate sanitation infrastructure.

Broken toilets, lack of drinking water, and poorly maintained handwashing stations create unsanitary conditions, leading to high absenteeism rates — especially among girls, who are disproportionately affected due to the lack of menstrual hygiene facilities.

Beyond infrastructure, there is a pressing need to instal sustainable hygiene habits among students and school staff so they can pass these practices on to the community and help build a culture of hygiene.

Educational campaigns and school monitoring programmes play a vital role in encouraging regular handwashing and proper sanitation practices.

Creating safe and healthy school environments is essential for effective learning, reducing the incidence of waterborne diseases, and tackling social exclusion. This is particularly important for adolescent girls, who must be able to manage their menstrual hygiene safely and with privacy.

Tamil Nadu, situated in southern India, heavily relies on monsoon rains for its water security. However, climate change has made rainfall patterns increasingly erratic — with heavy rains followed by long dry spells. These irregularities are disrupting traditional water harvesting and storage methods, leading to severe water scarcity during critical periods.

Additionally, the over-extraction of groundwater for agricultural, industrial, and domestic purposes has caused aquifer levels to decline throughout the region.

In light of the unreliability of conventional water sources, there is an urgent need for innovative water conservation and recharge strategies to restore groundwater levels and ensure long-term water security.

The two public schools — Kuttampalayam Primary School and Perundurai East-Middle School — serve around 340 students (162 boys and 187 girls), who experience these challenges firsthand.

There is an urgent need for the construction of new, hygienic, and gender-segregated sanitation facilities.

In Detail

The added value of this project lies in its integrated approach to improving sanitation infrastructure, increasing access to safe drinking water, and disseminating knowledge on hygiene practices in schools. Additionally, the project includes the installation of a rainwater harvesting system to support aquifer recharge and environmental protection.

The project not only focuses on developing WASH infrastructure in schools and homes, but also on building intensive systems to ensure ownership and sustainability of the facilities. In addition to the improved infrastructure, great emphasis is placed on strengthening knowledge and promoting behavioural change around hygiene among students.

Improved facilities — such as newly constructed handwashing stations and toilets — play a key role in encouraging behavioural change among students. These enhanced facilities provide a clean and comfortable environment, raising awareness of hygiene. Accessible, well-equipped installations promote regular handwashing and proper sanitation practices, ensuring privacy, especially for girls. By addressing these basic needs, students develop a positive attitude toward personal hygiene, generating a lasting impact on their health and behaviour.

Strengthening School Management Committees (SMCs) is essential for maintaining WASH facilities in schools. Empowered SMCs actively participate in decisions regarding maintenance and infrastructure improvement. They oversee the proper use of resources for constructing and maintaining facilities, such as toilets and handwashing stations. They also engage with the school community to raise awareness about preserving these facilities, fostering a sense of responsibility and ownership.

By involving SMCs in planning, monitoring, and maintenance, schools can establish sustainable practices that foster a clean and healthy environment for students.

The creation of a Child Cabinet in schools further supports the maintenance of these facilities. This student-led group can serve as a promoter and leader of hygiene practices in the school community. By involving students in decision-making, the project promotes responsibility and ownership.

The Child Cabinet can also take part in environmental protection through Mission Life, an initiative by the Government of India aimed at combating climate change. The Cabinet also aligns with Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) 2.0, ensuring coherence and synergy in improving sanitation and hygiene awareness.

WASH education and awareness, together with Information, Education and Communication (IEC) strategies, are integrated into the school curriculum, ensuring continuous learning about hygiene practices.

The involvement of local partners — including the School Management Committee, local government, and the Child Cabinet — throughout the entire project cycle, from conceptualisation to post-implementation, ensures a school-led approach, alignment with local regulations, and continuity of operations. This collaborative model fosters ownership, promotes sustainability, and enhances the project’s overall impact on improving school sanitation and knowledge dissemination.

Water Regeneration and Environmental Impact

This project goes beyond immediate infrastructure improvements by incorporating a water regeneration programme that addresses long-term sustainability.

Through rainwater harvesting, aquifer recharge, and continuous monitoring, the initiative ensures efficient resource management while enhancing local water security.

By integrating community-driven environmental restoration initiatives, the project fosters long-term social, economic, and ecological resilience, securing sustainable water access for future generations.

Sustainability Outlook

This project prioritises sustainability. It extends beyond infrastructure to focus on behavioural change and the integration of best practices, ensuring community ownership and long-term impact.

By strengthening School Management Committees (SMCs) and Child Cabinets, schools can establish sustainable practices that maintain a clean and healthy environment for students and ensure long-term viability, empowering children and communities to maintain WASH facilities over time.

Moreover, the interventions are designed to strengthen existing government systems, ensuring long-term sustainability. Government stakeholders will be involved from the outset and closely engaged throughout the project to ensure accountability and continuity upon its completion.

Constructing or renovating toilets in schools is relatively simple, but making them functional and used requires a shift in mindset and behaviour across a large group of children, as well as strong commitment from educators.