Women have the right to have safe and clean toilets at all convenient places; Bombay HC issues detailed guidelines to Corporations in setting up toilet facilities for `women walking on the streets’

Simple and basic but of vital importance are public toilets, which are as critical as any large infrastructure project to make cities liveable. The health of a city is inextricably linked to its toilets and it is imperative to provide them in sufficient number, the Bench said.The Bombay High Court has issued detailed guidelines on the issue of setting up in setting up toilet facilities for `women walking on the streets’. Division bench of Justices A.S. Oka and Revati Mohite Dere said that Public health is of paramount importance and that it is the duty of the State and the Corporations to ensure that public latrines, urinals and similar conveniences are constructed, maintained and kept in a hygienic condition.Niramay Public Charitable Trust, Milun Suryajani (a media organisation), and Smt. Vidya Bal, social activist had raised the issue of lack of toilet facilities for women through a Public Interest Litigation. They said that there are approximately 17 lakh women residing in the Pune Municipal Corporation area and for 17 Lakh women, there are only 180 urinals. They also submitted before the Court that there was no bonafide effort on the part of the Pune Municipal Corporation to discharge their public duties, imposed on them by the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act.The court said that no human being can live with dignity unless there are facilities to maintain basic hygiene and the right conferred by Article 21 cannot be meaningful if facilities of clean toilets and hygienic toilets are not provided to a woman walking on streets. She needs these facilities at public places like Railway Stations, Bus Stands, Banks, Public Offices like State Government Offices/Municipal Offices, the court said. The court also added that public toilets used by women have to be user-friendly, sustainable, safe, clean, hygienic and children/senior citizens/disabled friendly.The following directions were issued. (Important ones are boldened)All Municipal Corporations shall formulate a comprehensive scheme for construction of toilets/ urinals/ restrooms/ privies for women walking on the streets by forming a ‘committee’ within 4 weeks.While designing the toilets, care shall be taken to ensure that there is proper ventilation and preferably natural light without compromising on the privacy, security and safety of women. The new toilets shall be a separate unit with a separate entrance and be preferably at a distance from the men's toilets.All such toilets apart from being provided with the basic facilities of continuous supply of water and electricity, shall also be provided with soap dispensers, mirrors, toilet papers, hand dryers, sanitary disposal dustbins, basins, normal dustbins and exhaust fans. As far as `pay and use' facilities are concerned, sanitary napkins and tampons shall be made available on payment basis or alternatively, a dispenser for the same may be installed.All cleanliness material for sweeping, swabbing, urinal disinfectants, phenyl, naphthalene balls, etc. which are required to keep the toilets clean shall be made available to the lady attendant in each of such toilets. Provision be made for storage of these materials.Directions for proper use of toilets (signage) shall be displayed figuratively and in writing. The visual or figurative display shall guide the users to use the toilets in a proper manner, e. g., flush toilet after use; throw sanitary napkins/tampons in the sanitary hygienic bin; keep the toilet seat clean and dry; wash hands with soap after use; use hand dryer or paper towels; throw paper in dustbin, etc. The said visual/figurative display and writing shall be standardized in size, colour, logo, font, etc.A lady attendant should be deputed in each of such toilet, to ensure that the toilets are kept in a clean and hygienic condition. Toilets shall be protected by a trained woman security person in uniform who shall be available round the clock.The timing and frequency of cleaning of the toilets will be determined by the crowd flow. Similarly the frequency will depend upon the area and locality in which such toilets are situated. The toilets must and shall be cleaned at least every 1-2 hours depending upon the usage. The time at which the toilet shall be cleaned should be displayed. The lady attendant shall ensure that the floors of the toilets are kept clean and dry at all times.The Corporations shall ensure that there is a Lady Caretaker/ attendant in each of such toilets and that the said lady attendant/ caretaker so appointed is adequately trained and certified to perform the task. The lady caretaker/attendant/security in-charge shall be preferably in uniform and shall be given a photo identity card with name and seal of the local authority, so that, she can be identified.The Corporations shall ensure that an inspection card is displayed daily which can be used for supervision and monitoring of daily maintenance of toiletsA register or billing system shall be maintained at each toilet to...

Women have the right to have safe and clean toilets at all convenient places; Bombay HC issues detailed guidelines to Corporations in setting up toilet facilities for `women walking on the streets’

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Women have the right to have safe and clean toilets at all convenient places; Bombay HC issues detailed guidelines to Corporations in setting up toilet facilities for `women walking on the streets’

Ashok KM

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