Information Education Communication-IEC is practiced SEVAI- NGO target population for imparting hygiene education.

Women  trained in hygiene Practices:  IEC-Material produced by SEVAI

Information Education Communication-IEC   is practiced SEVAI NGO target population for imparting hygiene education. K.Devendaran and Vanitha Palanisamy of SEVAI Ngo organize periodic Awareness campaign to JLG women members and insist upon the need for IEC component of Hygiene and Sanitation especially to house hold toilet owners. K.Devendran prepared series of IEC material and organizes IEC campaign in rural areas of Trichy and Karur districts. In Kakayampatty cluster of the Watershed area, the women JLG  & SHG Members as supported by OFI/A B were oriented the importance of IEC in hygiene promotion and sanitation practices. K.Devendran, Coordinaor of SEVAI enlightened the WOMEN JLGs, “Maintaining personal hygiene is necessary for many reasons; personal, social, health, psychological or simply as a way of life. It is important to keep a good standard of hygiene which helps to prevent the development and spread of infections, illnesses and bad odours.Information, Education and Communication (IEC) are important components of the Hygiene and sanitation. Lack of awareness among the community regarding health and hygiene aspects of clean sanitation facilities is very vital. There is an increasing realization that, in any sanitation and hygiene programmes, continued access to sanitation services is not enough to sustain hygienic behaviours. It is the awareness and the education component of a sanitation programme that leads to sustained behavioral change.

Household toilet constructed in  Kakyampatty

Experience has shown that information, education, and communication (IEC) campaigns involving communities and grassroots organizations can accelerate the process of change and hasten the adoption of sanitary practices. However these efforts include addressing socio-cultural attitudes toward owning a household toilet. The intensity of the hygiene promotion and education is important in leading to sustained practices. Intensive hygiene activities also use different channels to reach people such as community meetings, home visits, contacts in classes, traditional media, different IEC materials etc. It is very important to know which strategies to adopt for hygiene promotion and education in a particular situation, which will help people continue safe practices after an intervention has ended. The emphasis is to educate the public; create awareness among them regarding good health and proper hygiene provides solutions to areas in need community as a whole; and create long term success by facilitating community involvement and ownership. IEC activities are area and culture specific, involve all sections of the rural population, in a manner, focusing on different various aspects of the programme, including creating willingness of the people to construct latrines, providing information on different designs, cost and technical options, environmental sanitation aspects, use and maintenance of structures, and above all it is aimed at changing hygiene behaviours, for sustained impacts of improved water and sanitation conditions”.-Kris