Where women visitors are not at ease

May 30, 2015 12:00 am | Updated 06:02 am IST - VISAKHAPATNAM:

The only public toilet at the Police Commissionerate in Visakhapatnam.— Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

The only public toilet at the Police Commissionerate in Visakhapatnam.— Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

It appears the Police Commissionerate is keen on ending gender discrimination. It has only one single amenity for visitors of both genders.

The discomfiture of having to interact with the uniformed person is compounded by the fact that there is only one toilet the visiting public and police personnel share. It gets worse for diabetics who need to relieve themselves at regular intervals.

Since the gender equality is not yet an accepted norm, women avoid using the toilet used by men apart from the fact that the doors are in disrepair.

“Apart from trains this is the only place that I have seen a single toilet for both sexes. Maybe, this could be a concept of smart toilet,” says a complainant, who had come with a grievance and was seen struggling to keep her pressing need under control.

A few women constables admitted that they did not feel comfortable directing a woman complainants to the public toilet. The problem is a temporary one. The new Commissioners’ Office coming up nearby will have all the facilities, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (administration) Ch. Venkateswara Rao has said. The new office is expected to be operational in a few months.

The new office will have a well-furnished sitting and reception area for people with grievances and proper toilets earmarked for men and women, Ravi Kumar, ADCP (special branch), has said.

The problem is a temporary one. New office of the Commissioner is coming up soon with all facilities

Ch. Venkateswara Rao

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police

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