Out of 15 e-toilets in Kozhikode city, only one, at Lorry Stand, is functional at present, despite an order by the Ombudsman for Local Bodies to ensure that they were all functional by May 14, 2015.
Lack of power and water supply are the major reasons why these toilets are of no use for the travelling women, for whom it was built. The e-toilets were built so that women travellers need not rely on private establishments such as restaurants and shops to relieve themselves. A controversy involving a mobile phone camera found in a restaurant’s toilet in the city sped up the implementation process of e-toilets.
However, the toilets were not really welcomed by the women in the city, mainly because most of them were located in open and public spaces.
Complicated system
Secondly, the mechanism of the e-toilets (coin-operated) was so complicated that some women got caught inside it a few times. The water supply was also not regular and hence the much hyped project fell into disuse very soon.
It was upon a petition from K.S. Jayasree, secretary of Sthree Chethana a front-runner organisation that made the demand for e-toilets, to the Ombudsman for Local Bodies that triggered the order that could have revived the toilets.
“There needs to be awareness campaigns to encourage the women to use the facility. The campaigns would not work if the toilets are not properly functional”, said Dr. Jayasree, on the need to revive the toilets. She blamed the Kozhikode Corporation for its lack of interest in the matter.
Visibility issues
“The 15 spots were chosen for the e-toilets based on the availability of Corporation land, accessibility and visibility. There are no e-toilets in many shopping centres in the city because of non-availability of convenient land. The toilets should not be hidden, if people need to notice it. Women have to get used to the idea,” Dr. Jayasree added.
In the Ombudsman sitting held on May 14, the Corporation has asked for more time to complete the work.
‘Women should be encouraged to use facility’
Civic body asks for more time to complete works
