Several Nagpur-based organisations have come together to take up a cause that has been a neglected aspect of urban planning in most cities. Come Monday, on the occasion Women’s Day, these organisations are going to launch a nation-wide campaign pressing for hygienic and clean toilets for women. “Not only in the State but also in the entire country, women are facing many diseases due to lack of toilets, especially hygienic and clean toilets, for them. Moreover, girls or elderly women find it difficult to express any kind of grievance in this regard. Hence, we will be launching hygienic and clean toilet campaign from March 8,” said Aruna Purohit, noted social worker and President of Women Empowerment and Networking Initiative.

 

Purohit pointed out that once out of the house, women avoid drinking enough water throughout the day as they are aware about lack of toilets for them. Even if toilets are available, they are not clean and hygienic. This habit of women not drinking enough water continues even at home and many of them suffer from diseases. This has been a serious problem for last several decades and the local administration concerned has been able to address the issue through mere paperwork, she lamented. In some cities, mobile toilets were built at great expense, but no one cared to find out how many women could actually use those. In some cases, toilets do not have lights. As a result, women avoid using toilet as it is dark in the evening. Shockingly, after darkness, women’s toilets are used by men without any hesitation. Also, it has been observed that women’s toilets, wherever they exist, have become a convenient place for alcoholics to hide and drink, she alleged. Women are willing to pay charges if the toilets for them are clean and hygienic.

 

However, in some cases, she alleged, either there is no water in toilets or tissue papers and dustbins are missing, alleged Purohit, who is also Executive Director of Annakshetra Foundation Trust, Director ‘Changulpanachi Chalwal’. During the campaign, the activists will inspect existing toilets at various Government, non-Government, public and private institutions, schools, colleges, malls, petrol pumps, cinemas in the city. Besides, they will find out if toilet facilities are available to migrant and non-migrant women. Women and men of all social, cultural, educational institutions, other private and public institutions will be involved. People will be motivated to file petitions nationally and internationally via the link http://chng.it/XcZGJFn6. Demonstrations will be staged at busy junctions of the city and signature campaign will be started. Further, if the issue is still neglected, agitation will be launched. 

 

“Other individuals, organisations associated with the campaign”

 

Nilima Bawne, President and Sarika Pendse, Vice-President, Dharampeth Mahila Multi-state Co-operative Society; Chhaya Shukla of Bharat Vikas Parishad; Supriya Mangrulkar, City Premier College & MKH Sancheti School/SS International School/Bharatiya Stree Shakti; Shailaja Pingale; Dr Ravi Girhe, Member, Maitree Sangh/Bankers Sports Council/Maharashtra Unorganised Workers Union; Varsha Deshpande, President, Sakhi Mandal; Savita Paliwal, President, Maharashtra Unorganised Workers Union, East Nagpur; Shruti Deshpande; Nana Samarth, Muk-Badhir Niwasi Shala, Saoner; Rani Dhawale, Soham Bahu-uddeshiya Sanstha-Nagpur Rural, Maitree Sangh, Kinnar Bahu-uddeshiya Sanstha; Sumit Kulkarni and Sachin Mukkewar of Abhi Nahi Toh Phir Kab Sanghatana; Milind Puranik, Shri Navdurga Seva Samiti, Navdurga Devasthan, Aradhya Foundation; Sanjay Pendse of Radhika Creation; Dr Rajendra Atram, President and Prasad Navalekar, Secretary, Grahak Prahar Sanghatana, Yavatmal; Datta Fadnavis, President, Shri Samarthnagari Gruhnirman Sahakari Sanstha; and Adv Hershal Chiplunkar are associated with campaign.