A total of 153 baby-friendly toilets would be constructed in all the anganwadi centres in the Corporation limits at a cost of Rs. 84.15 lakh.

Officials said that each toilet would be constructed at a cost of Rs. 55,000 and would have a space area of 24 square feet, floors and walls with ceramic tiles, ramps and baby water closets. Work has begun at many centres and a few toilets have been completed.

The rest of construction activity is expected to be completed by this month-end, added an official. The floors and walls were finished with ceramic tiles and attractive wall pictures like cartoons, flowers or pet animals would be pasted near the toilets.

To ensure that children do not get up locked inside, half doors were provided.

Ramps with hand-railing and handles were provided, both inside and outside, at the toilets. Suramangalam Zone would have 20 toilets, Hasthampatti Zone — 40, Ammapet Zone — 38 and Kondalampatti — 25. The practice of using toilets from childhood would ensure healthy practices among the children, added the officials.

Currently, the anganwadi centres do not have any special toilets for children and they have to defecate in the open. This causes sanitation issues and poses health problems for the children.

After the announcement by the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa that such toilets would be constructed, the Social Welfare and Nutritious Meal Programme Department had issued order dated April 17, 2012 and sanctioned funds for the construction activity.

Apart from construction of new toilets, major repairs at 49 toilets in various centres in four zones and minor repairs to 10 toilets in Ammapet Zone would be carried out.

The civic body had also passed a resolution recently for carrying out repair and construction works.