WOMEN WON’T BE CHARGED FOR URINATION IN PUBLIC TOILETS

MUMBAI: Soon, women who use pay-and-use toilets in the city for urinating will not be charged. In a gender-sensitive step taken by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), a new rule has been formulated that mandates reservation of one lavatory in every women’s toilet block for urination.

A circular was issued by municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte on August 14. While according to norms, urinals are free and Rs2 is charged for defecation, women continued to be charged as it was argued that a distinction could not be made between the activities.

“All assistant commissioners are directed to coordinate with the organisations running payand-use toilets in their wards and ensure that one toilet seat in the women’s section of every public toilet is reserved for urination. A report on the implementation of this order should be submitted in 15 days,” the BMC’S circular said.

It has also been instructed that a board stating ‘urinal for women’ be displayed outside the reserved lavatory.

“Despite mandatory free-urinal norms, women are always charged. Though one toilet seat is inadequate, there is at least some structure now. We have demanded that new women’s toilet blocks have a completely separate set of latrines for urination,” said Supriya Sonar, member, Right to Pee Campaign.

The 10-member committee formed to look into issues of public toilets for women comprising civic officials and right to campaign activists had its first meeting on Wednesday. It was decided that a ward-wise plan for improving the condition of existing toilets and constructing new ones will be prepared.

Pay-and-use toilets in C ward (Marine Lines, Bhuleshwar and Dhobi Talao) will be reviewed first.