TIRUNELVELI: Perhaps for the first time in the State, maintenance of a couple of pay-and-use toilets here is to be reserved for self-help groups of Arunthathiyar community, who alone are being involved in this exercise.

Whenever contract for maintenance of toilets is awarded to non-governmental organisations or other SHGs, they hire members of this community for the work. "But what they get from them as salary is paltry. So, we hit upon this idea of allocating some of the pay-and-use toilets of the corporation to the SHGs of Arunthathiyar community, known as `Subamathi SHGs,' so that they can earn more. A proposal in this regard will be placed before the council for approval," Mayor A. Jayarani told reporters here on Thursday.

When Ms. Jayarani recently met the members of this community, residing at Palayamkottai, Thatchanallur, Pettai and Melapalayam, they came up with this suggestion, which was an eye-opener for the Mayor. Since this economically and socially weaker section cannot compete with others in bidding to win the contract, they are only hired for cleaning and maintaining the toilets.

Once the toilets are identified for the Subamathi SHGs, the civic body would assist them in getting subsidised loan from banks for paying the deposit to the corporation. The corporation plans to allocate them the pay-and-use toilets near railway station and Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital.

When some of the SHGs of Arunthathiyar community started eateries and snacks manufacturing units with subsidised financial assistance from banks and Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing and Development Corporation, those business ventures failed to make profit as members of other communities kept a distance from them.

Pilot project

"We made some sincere efforts to improve their lot. But the reality is otherwise. If our pilot project becomes a success, then all pay-and-use toilets will be maintained only by Subamathi SHGs," Ms. Jayarani said.The corporation had also decided to allocate some of its premises for SHGs with members of below poverty line families to run Aavin milk parlours, she said.

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