Nagpur: almost two years have passed when Sandip Joshi, as mayor, has promised to build 100 public toilets.
Even though no one was built during his term, the conditions were in a mess.
Now, the Nagpur Citizens forum has launched a campaign – ‘Right to Pee’ to attract the attention of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC).
“This campaign has been launched to demand better public toilet facilities for women who visit the commercial area.
This is one of the main responsibilities of NMC to provide a clean and hygienic public area in all market areas,” Forum members said.
This campaign was launched from the Sitabuldi market area on Tuesday.
Residents responded enthusiastically with the signature drive on the first day, which was done by members of the Forum Rajat Padole, Rohit Kumbhare, Amit Bandurkar, Abhijeet Singh Chandel, Sameer Yelne, Rupesh Chaudhary, Shivam Umredkar, Vaibhav Shinde Patil, Sanket Mahalle and others.
Women and young girls who work in shops on the main road Sitabuldi and Bylanes extend support for the campaign.
In the past, Sahyog Trust, another NGO based in the city, has launched a unique protest campaign ‘occupying a men’s toilet’ to raise his voice against the unavailability of public toilets for women in the city.
Even the Nagpur bench from the Bombay High Court has directed NMC in this matter and but the Civic body has failed to apply orders.
The number of public toilets in the city of Nagpur is inadequate compared to the population.
At present, the city has 68 public urinals and 56 pays and uses the toilet.
Salary restrictions and use toilets, most of the urinal is in very bad conditions.
Due to lack of maintenance, this toilet is filled with dirt and pose a serious health threat.
Even 15 toilets for women developed by the Rotary Club of Nagpur were closed due to crunch funds.
The Mayor of Dayashankar Tiwari admitted that the number of public toilets was not enough.
But he quickly blamed non-cooperation with residents.
“Every year NMC saves funds to build toilets in their zonal budget, but have never found government land for their construction.
If the land is available, the closest residents opposed the move,” Mayor said.
Local corporators must convince these residents and help NMC to build public toilets in their respective environments, it shows.
This year NMC has identified several places where eight to nine public toilets will be built, said Tiwari.
The lack of public toilets in large markets such as Sitabuldi, expensive, itwari is a big discomfort for citizens.
Women and young girls who work in this market suffer from health problems due to lack of toilets.
“The city of Nagpur, which has developed as a metro city, does not have sanitation facilities.
NMC and selected representatives have deliberately ignored the basic rights of taxpayers,” Alleged Rajat Padole, campaign coordinator ‘the right to urinate’.
He showed that the situation in the ’embarrassing’ nagpur compared to public toilets in other cities.
“Clean, safe and free toilets are the right of every citizen who pay taxes,” Padole said.
This campaign began to make people aware of their rights.
The Nagpur Citizens Forum launched a campaign ‘right to urinate’ to survey urinals and public toilets in the city.
Forum members are checking the situation by visiting toilets in various parts of the city.
Factual reports will be prepared based on the information collected.
Apart from this, the referendum is being detained in the market place and crowded places.
This campaign also tried to find out women’s complaints working in shops and offices regarding the toilet.
On this occasion, the forum has started the signature drive about this problem.
The public awareness campaign, the referendum and signature campaign are the first phase of this campaign.
In the second phase, public dialogue, agitation and Gherrao selected representatives will be carried out in front of public toilets that are poorly maintained.
This forum has also formed a committee to study sanitation and toilet facilities in other Metros.
This will prepare a report on how public toilets are maintained in other cities and submit the same to NMC.