Provision of sanitary facilities for women was one of the priority areas of the Rural Development Department when this Government was in power in 2001.  The non availability of sanitary facilities impacts women and they suffer in silence.  Absence of sanitary facilities is primarily due to both poverty and cultural inhibitions, which had to be overcome.  Therefore, it was of paramount importance to ensure privacy and safety to women besides improving general hygiene and health to the rural people.
            The Government in 2001 decided to build Integrated Sanitary Complexes for Women in all the 12,618 Village Panchayats in the State, at an approximate area of 750 sq.ft. each. The selected sites were easily accessible to the rural women and nearer to the habitations.  Each complex had 14 water closets, 2 bathrooms, 1 pump room with pump set, 1 water tub and stone-paved washing facilities.  Adequate water supply for washing and bathing requirements were also ensured.  The total users were identified and grouped for the purpose of allocation of individual toilets within the complex.  The Village Panchayats provided electricity connection for water supply and lighting and the allotted families maintained the upkeep of the complex.  The complexes were provided with incinerators for disposal of the sanitary napkins of the user women.
            Initially, 385 Integrated Sanitary Complexes for Women were constructed at the rate of 1 per Panchayat Union at a cost of
Rs.2.00 lakh each.  Between 2001 and 2004, all the Village Panchayats in the State were covered under the Scheme with the enhanced unit cost of Rs. 2.25 lakh.  However, most of the Integrated Sanitary Complexes for Women were rendered unusable since the previous Government did not give adequate attention for its maintenance.
            As per the directions of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, 12,796 sanitary complexes which were in the state of disuse have been renovated at a cost of Rs.170 crore during 2011-12, thereby restoring the basic facilities of the rural women.
9.1 Maintenance of Integrated Sanitary Complexes for Women
9.1.1 Formation of User Groups
             In order to ensure regular maintenance and usage of the Integrated Sanitary Complexes for Women, User Groups have been formed for all the renovated Complexes from among the women Self Help Group members and Habitation Level Forums, with the assistance of the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women.  These User Groups have also been trained on the use and maintenance of Complexes.  A Booklet on use and maintenance of Integrated Sanitary Complexes for Women has been prepared and given to all the User Groups as a Ready Reckoner.

9.1.2 Direct maintenance
            The Village Panchayats shall ensure the availability of electricity connection in the Complex.  The current consumption charges in respect of water supply and lighting is met out of the Village Panchayat General Fund.  In order to ensure continuous functioning of the Complex, any minor repair/maintenance work like maintenance of pump sets and cleaning of septic tanks are being attended to by the Village Panchayat and the expenditure is met out from the Village Panchayat General Fund.
             User Groups follow up with the Village Panchayats so that the current consumption charges are regularly paid, septic tanks are cleaned at periodic intervals and minor repairs are attended to then and there, by the Village Panchayat concerned.

9.1.3 Day to day Maintenance through User Groups
             The day to day maintenance of the Integrated Sanitary Complexes for Women is undertaken by the User Groups through a nominal contribution given by the user members.  The User Groups have so far collected Rs.3.17 crore from among the members for maintenance of the Complexes.  This kind of a shift in the maintenance of Complexes through the User Group has created a perception of ownership among them and facilitated sustainability of the Complexes.

9.1.4 Constitution of Monitoring Committees
           To monitor the maintenance of the Integrated Sanitary Complexes for Women, the District Collectors have constituted the District Level and Block Level Monitoring Committees.  The above Committees deliberate on the following and take necessary follow up action:

• Functioning status of each and every Integrated Sanitary Complex for Women
• Maintenance of the Complexes by User Groups
• Periodic maintenance by Village Panchayats
• Feedback given by the User Groups
• Feedback on inspections made by the members of the Committee / Zonal Officers.