E-toilets will promote inclusive community access and involvement in public spaces.
Story so far: The BBMP plans to introduce a hundred SHE toilets, a fully automated public toilet facility for women. SHE toilets have previously been introduced in Hyderabad, Telangana, and Kerala, but have run into upkeep issues. According to a toilets campaigner, this is a forward-thinking move that should be implemented with the same hyperopia.
- Under the PPP model, the Palike identified a hundred suitable locations for the e-toilets. Each unit will have a toilet, a sanitary napkin vending machine, a feeding room, and a foyer room.
- The project will be executed in a public-private partnership. Each unit is expected to cost ₹18 lakh, for which a tender has been floated already. While most e-toilets of this kind have a user fee, the BBMP resolved to not do so.
Why it matters? Women’s access to public spaces is severely limited in India due to gender insensitivity in urban planning and a climate of unsafety. The new toilets will cater to the previously ignored needs of women, such as sanitary pads and feeding stations.
- This move is expected to increase women’s access to public spaces, ensure their hygiene and safety, and make life more comfortable for daily commuters.