Srivaikundam CSCs cater to temple devotees & the public

Of the nine Nava Thirupathi temples in South , six are located in the Srivaikundam Block of Thoothukudi District in . More than 10,000 devotees visit these temples each year from various places. To cater to these visitors as well as the public that visit other archeologically important places in the Block such as Athichanallur and Sivagalai as also the Korkai port that dates to the reign of the Pandiya kingdom, community sanitary complexes are available.

Given that the temples are designated tourist places, they are maintained by the Tamil Nadu Tourism and Development Corporation and Srinivasan Service Trust and each of them have a community sanitary complex annexed to them.

Srivaikundam block is made up of 31 Village Panchayats, most of which are located along the Tambarabarani River basin and have a sizeable population from the SC category. The Block also has at least one Integrated Women’s Sanitary Complex (IWSC) in every village and an Integrated Men’s Sanitary Complexes (IMSC) in some, that were constructed around 2002-2003 and renovated in 2011-2012 and yet again for the nationwide Swachh Sundar Samadayik Shauchalaya (SSSS) competition. They are maintained and kept in good condition by the Village Panchayat Administration.

The CSCs that cater to pilgrims are:

Agaram CSC: This CSC and the adjoining park area built at a cost of Rs.5 lakhs from the general fund is used by the thousands of pilgrims who visit the famous Temple. Normally, they walk all the way from their hometowns and stop at Agaram village that is on the highway, for food and relaxation before they continue their walk to the temple.

CSC near Erattai Thirupathi Temple in Kilpidagai Kaspa village: More than 100 people visit this temple every day and the number doubles during Saturdays and during Vaikunta Ekadashi festival. Moreover, on Purattasi that falls in September each year, more than 10,000 devotees from across the country congregate at the village. To cater to them, the district administration had sanctioned the construction of CSCs for both genders with continuous water supply and has in place an efficient system for O&M. CSC in Thirupuliyangudi Village near Kasiniventha Perumal Temple: This temple is the most famous of the nine temples that sees about 100 visitors daily. On and Saturdays more than 150 people visit this temple while on Purattasi Saturdays more than 10000 devotees visit from all over India. Within the Temple complex are two public toilets for both genders which are properly maintained.

Mukkani Village Public Toilet: Located on the Tiruchendur Highway, the Mukkani Gram Panchayat is home to 4 villages, one town panchayat and a population of 4521. More than 500 people including school going children cross the Mukkani junction every day. Pilgrims who visit the Tiruchendur temple also pass that way as also the 1000 plus visitors to the temple during festivals. All these people use the CSC which is well maintained by the Mukkani Panchayat administration.

Other CSCs in the Block: In all the CSCs in Patandivilai Village, Korkai Hamlet, and the GPs of Thirupanichitikulam, Perur, Tholappanpannai, Kottarakuruchi, Kilpidagai Kaspa, and Aniyaparanallur, various IEC activities were conducted as a part of SSSS competition to promote usage and maintenance. They included rallies by SHG/VPRC members and school students, door to door distribution of pamphlets, wall paintings with sanitation messages, and dissemination of information about safe disposal of child excreta.

Many of the CSCs have thriving fruit and vegetable gardens around them to which wastewater is channelled. Three benefits from this are - wastewater is utilised for a good purpose; there is no stagnant water or breeding of mosquitoes; and the vegetable garden is a source of additional income for the SHGs that maintain it.

Further, all the members of the user groups have been trained about the maintenance of the sanitary complexes particularly about hygienic usage of toilets, sparing use of water, operation of motor pumps and the importance of personal sanitation. VPRC/PLF office bearers, SBM-G Motivators, and Field staff from BDO office regularly visit the sanitary complex to inspect it and provide suggestions. Every household voluntarily contributes Rs.5/- every month towards the maintenance of the sanitary complex and for sundry expenses.