GREAT PRESIDENT OF NALUKOTTAI
Nalukottai in Sivaganga district has evolved into an exceptional village panchayat of rare accomplishments.
Adjudged the `model panchayat' for 2000-2001 by the Tamil Nadu Government, the village sports a healthy look with trendy cement streets and drainage facilities. All but one dwelling unit have been converted into either tiled or concrete roofed structures.
- "The burning percentage of streetlights is an astounding 98.5," says N.O.V.S. Ramanathan, who has been the panchayat president since 1965. Almost all houses are electrified.
- There is no manual scavenging. Of the 503 houses, 140 have been provided with modern toilets under the Central Rural Sanitation Programme. The rest have had the facility already.
- At every street corner are provided dustbins, which workers clear once a week. The villagers strictly boycott plastics.
- Those who expect to look at a dilapidated noon meal centre and a ration shop would be in for a pleasant surprise. Almost all buildings housing Government and panchayat offices are new and neat.
- "Only the health sub-centre is functioning in a rented building," says the 68-year-old president.
