Babu Trust, Salem, Tamil Nadu Date: [Insert Date] Location: Erode District, Tamil Nadu

1. Executive Summary

This proposal outlines a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative to construct hygienic, sustainable toilets for Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities in underserved rural areas of Tamil Nadu. The project addresses the critical sanitation gap, aiming to improve public health, reduce open defecation, and restore dignity to households lacking basic toilet access. With 300+ toilets to be constructed in Erode district, this initiative seeks to foster long-term hygiene practices and strengthen community well-being.

2. Background and Rationale

Despite notable progress under government sanitation programs, many tribal communities in Tamil Nadu—particularly in districts like Erode, Namakkal, and Salem—continue to practice open defecation due to inadequate infrastructure and limited awareness. This exposes residents to preventable health risks, including water-borne diseases, while compromising safety and privacy, especially for women and children. A focused, community-led sanitation initiative is needed to bridge this infrastructure gap and drive sustainable behavioural change.

3. Project Objectives

• Construct over 300 individual household toilets in ST-dominated villages.

• Enhance health, hygiene, and safety in tribal communities.

• Promote behavioural change through sanitation education and community engagement.

• Strengthen coordination with local governance bodies to ensure project sustainability.

4. Project Scope and Activities

• Baseline Survey: Collaborate with local panchayats to identify ST households without access to toilets.

• Construction of Toilets: Build durable, low-cost twin pit or eco-sanitation toilets, adapted to soil conditions and community needs.

• Awareness Campaigns: Organize hygiene education programs, including workshops, street plays, and demonstrations to encourage toilet use.

• Monitoring and Maintenance: Engage trained volunteers and youth from the local area to oversee upkeep and conduct periodic evaluations.

5. Implementation Plan

Phase 1 (Months 1–2):

• Site selection and household sanitation survey

• Community mobilization and stakeholder meetings

Phase 2 (Months 3–8):

• Construction of household toilets

• Parallel hygiene awareness campaigns

Phase 3 (Months 9–10):

• Monitoring of toilet usage and behaviour tracking

• Training households on toilet maintenance

Phase 4 (Months 11–12):

• Final review and impact assessment

• Documentation of lessons learned

6. Budget Estimate

7. Expected Outcomes

• Access to safe, hygienic sanitation for 300+ tribal households

• Significant reduction in open defecation practices

• Improved health indicators, particularly among children and women

• Enhanced community ownership of sanitation infrastructure and behaviour

8. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Regular field visits, usage tracking, and maintenance checks

• Photo documentation of progress

• Midline evaluation at Month 6 and endline survey at project close

• Final impact report to include beneficiary feedback, health indicators, and sustainability plans

9. Conclusion

This initiative offers a high-impact opportunity to transform public health and dignity for underserved tribal communities in Tamil Nadu. By partnering with Babu Trust, CSR sponsors can play a pivotal role in realizing sanitation equity while contributing to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in health, clean water, and social inclusion. We invite your support to uplift vulnerable communities through meaningful, measurable change.