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On Mumbai's roadmap: Washroom for women every
two km!
Sunday November 13, 2011 05:50:43 PM,
Mauli Buch, IANS
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Mumbai: To improve the
sanitary standards in Mumbai, its civic body is planning
free-for-use washrooms for women every two km of the city. And if
a group of NGOs has its way, they may also be equipped with
sanitary pads vending machines and have female cleaners instead of
the male staff.
"The BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) is planning to build
dedicated toilets for women within every two km in the city. After
their construction, the maintenance and management of these will
be handed over to NGOs," BMC standing committee chairman Rahul
Shevale told IANS.
A group of 35 NGOs is demanding that these restrooms should have
facilities to change and dispose off sanitary pads.
"There should be vending machines for sanitary pads. I am sure a
woman would not mind paying a few bucks if she has the facility of
buying and changing at the same place," Usha Kale of NGO Apnalaya
India told IANS.
"We have demanded that the BMC build such a toilet as a pilot
project at any of the busy stations like Dadar, Churchgate or
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus," she added.
Mumbai's civic body will Monday launch a joint survey in
association with the NGO representatives to identify the problems
of the plan.
"To start with, we will survey 10 BMC wards in 10 days. Once the
survey is over, we will decide on a pilot project," Shevale said.
Kale said the budget to manage and maintain these restrooms should
be provided by the BMC.
"Women generally face problems when a male attendant is tending to
the bathroom. It is embarrassing for them. We can provide women
manpower, but the maintenance costs and the salaries of these
attendants should be paid by the BMC," Kale told IANS.
Apnalaya is one of the 35 NGOs that have been regularly
coordinating with the BMC for improved sanitation facilities for
women in the financial capital of the country.
Kale also pointed out that women are charged to use public
toilets, which is against the rules.
"As per the rule, no one should be charged. But mostly women have
to pay to use the restrooms. Moreover, there are times when one
might not have change to pay. It becomes embarrassing for a woman
to argue with a male attendant and hence she might entirely avoid
using the loo," Kale said.
"This leads to health hazards. Moreover, unclean toilets and
unsafe atmosphere adds to the trouble," she added.
According to a BMC official, there are around 1,800 public toilets
in the city. The ratio of toilet blocks for men and women is 80
and 20.
"Shortage of blocks and the liberal use of water are often cited
as reasons for charging a fee by those who maintain it. But it
surely is not right," he said.
However, Shevale has promised to prominently display a sign at all
public restrooms that it can be used for free.
Mumbai has 427 sq km of area of which 105 sq km is a national park
and 45 sq km is the coastal area.
(Mauli Buch can be contacted at
mauli.b@ians.in)
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