For 22-year-old Maheshwari, who had no other option but to use the
community toilet even during the night, it was a great relief when the
first crowd-funded toilet was inaugurated at her house in Ambedkar
Nagar, Vilankurichi.
"I have been living in this area for over 15 years. Finally, a toilet has been constructed inside our house. We had always wanted an in-house toilet but could not afford it," she said.
Her four year old son, Jagadeesh, is equally happy as he's not afraid to go to the toilet any more. After the construction of the first crowd-funded toilet in the state under the Swachh Bharat mission, the civic body plans to construct nearly 2,500 toilets by promoting entrepreneurs and civil engineers.
This first toilet was constructed within 48 hours and was funded by various individuals who had contributed to its construction online. "We set up the website toiletfirst.in and within two days we were able to set up the toilet with basic facilities," said Padmanabhan.
His friends who were civil engineers and interested in entrepreneurship helped in the construction. Civic body officials said that three other civil engineers who were youngsters have approached the Coimbatore corporation. "We have received applications and proposals from three youngsters so far. We hope that many such youngsters would come forward to set up these toilets," said Suresh Bhandari, a co-ordinator from Clean Cities foundation.
At a meeting, held on Wednesday, modalities were worked out with the NGOs who have been appointed as the brand ambassadors of the mission. The NGOs will facilitate the construction of toilets by involving entrepreneurs. CRI Pumps has submitted an application officially seeking the construction of 100 toilets and other NGOs and corporates have shown interest in setting up 400 more toilets.
"I have been living in this area for over 15 years. Finally, a toilet has been constructed inside our house. We had always wanted an in-house toilet but could not afford it," she said.
Her four year old son, Jagadeesh, is equally happy as he's not afraid to go to the toilet any more. After the construction of the first crowd-funded toilet in the state under the Swachh Bharat mission, the civic body plans to construct nearly 2,500 toilets by promoting entrepreneurs and civil engineers.
This first toilet was constructed within 48 hours and was funded by various individuals who had contributed to its construction online. "We set up the website toiletfirst.in and within two days we were able to set up the toilet with basic facilities," said Padmanabhan.
His friends who were civil engineers and interested in entrepreneurship helped in the construction. Civic body officials said that three other civil engineers who were youngsters have approached the Coimbatore corporation. "We have received applications and proposals from three youngsters so far. We hope that many such youngsters would come forward to set up these toilets," said Suresh Bhandari, a co-ordinator from Clean Cities foundation.
At a meeting, held on Wednesday, modalities were worked out with the NGOs who have been appointed as the brand ambassadors of the mission. The NGOs will facilitate the construction of toilets by involving entrepreneurs. CRI Pumps has submitted an application officially seeking the construction of 100 toilets and other NGOs and corporates have shown interest in setting up 400 more toilets.