R ecently, this video clip of a Union Minister hit the internet, where he is seen urinating in the open while his armed official guards in uniform wait for him to finish his business. It invited an outpouring of sarcasm from all quarters, especially since ODF (open defecation-free) is the new and trending catchphrase in the new found Swachh Bharat. Nevertheless, most people saw it only as a faux pas and forgot the incident after a joke or two.
When it comes to open-air urination in India, it’s almost entirely a man’s world. And let’s admit, it’s not only about the lack of public convenience facilities. Along with the ones that have been built by the municipal authorities, we do have the Sulabh Shauchalayas backed by a rather successful pay-per-use model. But today many of them are either clogged or locked up, and men relieve themselves on the walls of that very shauchalaya even as passing women scamper across with their pallu on the face.
It isn’t about continence and self-control either. Well, not always! Because if it is, aren’t our men losing their self-control all too soon compared to our women who are meanwhile presumed to be blessed with highly-resilient storage systems?
So, what is it really about? The truth, I assert, is that urinating in public, out in the open, by men is not associated with shame or dignity in our country, which is why men are often seen unzipping mindlessly and unabashedly anywhere and everywhere with little or no regard even for the presence of women around. It is this deep-seated psyche that is stealthily furthering this systemic gender insensitivity in our public convenience provisions.
To begin with, there aren’t enough washrooms for women, and the ones that do exist here and there are always coupled with or adjacent to a men’s facility.
Now it’s probably because of the filth, but the males don’t think it is really necessary to go in when they can easily have it done right outside — just like throwing trash next to the bin is often equated with having thrown it inside the bin by Indian sensibilities. Also, the onus of male privacy too is on the shoulders of the virtuous women of our country. Therefore, the good Indian woman excuses herself from ‘such places’ lest she be forced to catch a glance and end up outraging her own modesty. In reality, these men doing their business right outside make the toilets a no-go zone for many a woman.
Even the structural design of many public toilets contributes to this problem: they comprise just a wall with three urinals and a leaky tap. The user is usually in full public view — unless the design includes another wall that covers up to the shoulder height for some so-called privacy. Add to that a little lack of civic consciousness, and we are left with a filthy, stinking wall that generates an atmosphere of noxious gases around itself.
We have overlooked the fact that more and more women are entering public life, and by public life I mean anything beyond the four walls of their house; they require more usable washrooms. And these are not just in the offices but at bus stations, shopping complexes and parking spaces too, because to be able to ease oneself shouldn’t be a privilege of only the working women.
An unfriendly spot
The apathy towards female public toilets goes far beyond just utility. Simpler problems ranging from those of logistics to heinous crimes like molestation and rape and all things in between, such as low privacy and overcharging, make these an unfriendly spot.
All of the above is why we need to think about it. This whole gamut of issues embodies the women’s right to equal access to public places. More often than not, the night falls at 6 p.m. for the Indian woman. While India strives to be a safer country for women each day, let us ensure that during the limited hours available to them they have an equal chance at comfort, health, dignity and everyday decision-making.
Exemplary stories
The solution lies in creating a feeling of ownership among women, to summon them to claim what has been inadvertently lost to the male dominion. While working as an officer on the Swachh Bharat Mission, I encountered many exemplary stories of women shaming men to stop open defecation and engaging others at the mass level.
We need to address the attitudinal deficits surrounding open urination in a similar fashion and insist upon a behavioral change that doing so in the open simply isn’t a civilised option. Our women and children need to take charge in shaming the offenders.
As for improving the insides of our public toilets for women, the key lies in a few administrative and educational measures and a whole lot of effort on part of our women. A suitable public convenience is a luxury they haven’t experienced yet. And like all things nice, the women have got to earn it!
The author is a 2013 batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre. The views are personal. Email: harshitamathur.18@gmail.com
