Toilet network for women on anvil
Government to build
washrooms for fairer sex at easy-to-access points across the state
Six months after the state women and child welfare department’s
(WCD ) proposal to the chief minister, the state has finally decided to build a
toilet network for women at easy-to-access places across the state.
At a high-level meeting held on June 6, which was attended by officials from various agencies, including BMC, railways, PWD, rural development as well as PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal and WCD minister Varsha Gaikwad, it was decided that the public works department (PWD) will construct the toilets at district toll nakas on city outskirts and flyovers and bridges within the city.
Further, the government will earmark unused land near railway stations and bus stations in Mumbai and other cities for the purpose. “Toll nakas are the most ideal places for women’s toilets, as vehicles can halt near them. Also, we can have toilets below flyovers and bridges,” Gaikwad told DNA.
As for the city, the PWD has been asked to work with the BMC to conduct a joint survey and identify suitable spots on major roads, underbridges and outside rail stations and submit their report by Wednesday, added Gaikwad. Also, the railways have been asked to keep their women toilets usable. “City collectors have been directed to issue strict warnings to petrol pumps and dhabas to keep existing toilets clean and hygienic,” told Gaikwad.
While the construction contract for the women’s toilets may be given to NGOs, women self-help groups may be roped in to maintain them, thus generating employment for women.
Stressing on the “huge” need for public toilets for women travelling by roads, Gaikwad said, “Vidarbha and Marathwada regions are the worst in this regard, with the existing toilets in poor condition. Lakhs of women are forced to hold the urine for hours, which is not only painful but also poses health risks like urinary tract infection (UTI).” The WCD proposal was aimed at toilets on expressway and highways, it was understood that they would be very difficult to manage and may expose women to crime risk.
In December 2011, Gaikwad had proposed to the CM the construction of toilets on highways for the lakhs of women travelling by buses and cars. In the two years she travelled in the state for official work, Gaikwad contracted UTI thrice.
At a high-level meeting held on June 6, which was attended by officials from various agencies, including BMC, railways, PWD, rural development as well as PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal and WCD minister Varsha Gaikwad, it was decided that the public works department (PWD) will construct the toilets at district toll nakas on city outskirts and flyovers and bridges within the city.
Further, the government will earmark unused land near railway stations and bus stations in Mumbai and other cities for the purpose. “Toll nakas are the most ideal places for women’s toilets, as vehicles can halt near them. Also, we can have toilets below flyovers and bridges,” Gaikwad told DNA.
As for the city, the PWD has been asked to work with the BMC to conduct a joint survey and identify suitable spots on major roads, underbridges and outside rail stations and submit their report by Wednesday, added Gaikwad. Also, the railways have been asked to keep their women toilets usable. “City collectors have been directed to issue strict warnings to petrol pumps and dhabas to keep existing toilets clean and hygienic,” told Gaikwad.
While the construction contract for the women’s toilets may be given to NGOs, women self-help groups may be roped in to maintain them, thus generating employment for women.
Stressing on the “huge” need for public toilets for women travelling by roads, Gaikwad said, “Vidarbha and Marathwada regions are the worst in this regard, with the existing toilets in poor condition. Lakhs of women are forced to hold the urine for hours, which is not only painful but also poses health risks like urinary tract infection (UTI).” The WCD proposal was aimed at toilets on expressway and highways, it was understood that they would be very difficult to manage and may expose women to crime risk.
In December 2011, Gaikwad had proposed to the CM the construction of toilets on highways for the lakhs of women travelling by buses and cars. In the two years she travelled in the state for official work, Gaikwad contracted UTI thrice.
Kanchan Srivastava DNA 120609
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