Last resort gives hygiene tips with gift

“Earlier there was no restroom and many had to relieve themselves in public. Now we have made a provision and yet people are not using them,” says AJ Hariharan, secretary, ICWO, which has collaborated with the Corporation to maintain the Velankadu crematorium, located near Avadi.

The crematorium is maintained by women and they say the sight of people urinating in public is uncomfortable. “People are so used to relieving themselves in public that they did not use the toilets present in the facility. Initially, we made regular announcements on loudspeakers requesting people to use the toilets, but it was embarrassing. Moreover, it didn’t deliver the desired results,” says another member.

Hariharan wanted to do something that would make people use the restroom. “We decided to gift pens and other stationery to those who would utilise the facility. We made a signboard saying, ‘Use this toilet. You may win fabulous prizes’. The initiative became an instant hit. As the word spread, the usage increased,” he added.