RISE — Resources for Improved Sanitation and Education

In 2024–25, Panchayat Union Middle School, Kattathur marked a proud milestone — 100 years of education in this small Ariyalur village. A century of teachers, children, and families. And yet, on the day of its centenary, the school still had no independent water source and no functional toilet for its 104 girls. Water came from a farmer's well next door — by permission, not by right. For girls reaching puberty, school during menstruation meant choosing between dignity and attendance. Many chose to stay home. The RISE project — Resources for Improved Sanitation and Education — was COROAT's response to that gap. Implemented with CSR support from Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Limited, RISE delivered what a hundred years had not: a new toilet block with urinal and handwash stations, a dedicated borewell with a CRI motor and full pipeline, and a septic system — built in January and February 2026, and designed to last for decades. The school's centenary year ended without these. The year after it did not.

100

Students benefited
98 boys · 104 girls

Years of schooling
Without independent water

202

23%

Girls drop out at puberty
Nationally, without school toilets

₹9.70L

Total project cost
₹8.32L utilised by Feb 2026

Toilet block, urinal & handwash stations

Classrooms and ceilings at the Government Adi Dravidar Welfare Primary and High Schools were fully repainted, a new covered shed with fan facilities constructed, and furniture, speaker system, and school materials procured — executed by JVK Enterprises with NSNOP approvals. A Tamil teacher said it best: "Now nobody would say that. Our school is no longer a vulnerable school. We stand with dignity."

What RISE built — and why it matters

A new girls' toilet unit with a separate urinal and two handwash stations was constructed from the ground up. National data shows that schools without functional toilets see 20% lower attendance than those with proper facilities (World Bank). For 104 girls at Kattathur, this was not a statistic — it was their daily reality.

Toilet block, urinal & handwash stations

Septic tank — a complete system, not just a building

A reinforced concrete septic tank was constructed alongside the toilet block, making the system fully self-contained and sanitary. No partial infrastructure. No dependency. A complete solution built to last.

Borewell, CRI motor & full pipeline

A borewell was drilled, a CRI motor installed, and pipelines laid from the borewell directly to the toilet block. For over a century, this school drew water from a neighbouring farmer's well — by goodwill, not entitlement. That dependence is now over.

Hygiene sensitisation for 202 students

IEC materials and a structured hygiene module were prepared for all 202 students covering handwashing, menstrual hygiene management, and safe water use. Research by WaterAid shows that proper WASH facilities combined with awareness programmes can reduce school absenteeism by up to 50%.