The toilet versus education tradeoff

The sun was beating down on a hot Thursday afternoon in Thiruthalaiyur in the Trichy district of Tamil Nadu. In our search for Mohanambal’s home (we had no proper address to go by), we talked to many villagers who kept mentioning two significant landmarks – the big banyan tree and the library. I was delighted to see both of these beautiful monuments in such a small village. After discovering that the librarian was out for the day, we found Mohanambal working her second job on a construction site near the big banyan tree. She agreed to take a break from work and chatted with us in the shade for a few minutes. She told me about how her daily work is usually taking care of her home and her cow. Now, she was happy to have been contracted for a few weeks of construction work. Mohanambal is a hard worker and wants to provide for her family. She lives with her husband, mother-in-law, and three children who are in school and college. She told me she wanted the best for them, which is why she took out a loan from Guardian (Milaap’s field partner) to build them a toilet. They started a month ago and will take maybe one month longer. “The toilet is mostly constructed, but it’s just missing a door.” When I asked how long the structure had been ready without a door, she said for around 20 days. What do they do to relieve themselves in the mean time? Mohanambal and her family utilize a nearby field. Although it isn’t easy or comfortable, the family prioritizes their children’s education. With her eldest in college, it is clear that Mohanambal is doing her best to improve her family’s future. And, she assured me, “the bathroom should be ready in a month,” after her and her husband earn enough wages to buy the door. She is excited to soon have access to safe and dignified sanitation!