Can We Give Them More Public Toilets on International Women's Day

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One summer afternoon, I was going out with my wife for some work. After getting ready, I had a glass of water and advised my wife also to have some water before going for trip so that she does not feel thirsty during the trip as it was really very hot outside. To my great surprise she refused to have water before going outside. When I asked the reason, I was shocked to know that she did not want to have water before a trip because then she may need to urinate while in the way to destination, then how will she handle it. I was stunned. I never thought of this. As being male, it was quite easy for me to turn my back on the society and do it anywhere, whenever I need to do it (on a lighter side I say it like this “???? ???? ????? ”), but how will she do it, I had no answer to it. I then realized that there are almost no ladies toilets in Delhi and if you find them somehow, you will find them either locked, or very dirty or some sweeping material dumped inside or being used by drug addicts as their safe heaven. Condition of male public toilets is also not very good, but since being used heavily, they generally remain in working condition and though not enough but they are much more in number than ladies toilets. I assume, similar situation prevails for entire India. Shame on us! If we cannot give the equal number of public toilets to 50% of our population, even after 70 years of independence, on what basis we talk about human empowerment. What if some lady is diabetic or having periods? Sulabh Shauchalaya’s are doing little better. But they are very less in number. I don’t know why they always open Sulabh Shauchalya Complex only, as if they are opening a shopping complex. Why can’t they open them small and more frequent? Now a days our prime minister, Narendra Modi is also requesting us to make toilets in home. He does not feel shy in accepting ground realities that we Indians are short of basic essential needs of Humans i.e. toilets. He is giving subsidy also in rural area for making toilets. It is all good. But what about cities like Delhi, where approx. population of working ladies may be much more than any other area of the country? Though intentions of our prime ministers are good but he is leaving one very important aspects of it. He is pushing his best for making private toilets in our homes, he should also focus on availability of public toilets for ladies. Government of India is very resourceful and I am sure if willing they can do it. It was a very serious question raised on us. I never thought it can be so different situation for her. I never thought of it since I am developed in a male dominated society. For the first time I come to know to the meaning of “male dominated society”. Yes we have designed it for us only and when they could not get solution to their problem they find it their way by not drinking water before going outside. OMG, how can they do it in summer days? Now I could recap my life to see how difficult it would have been for them to live in our world. We designed bicycle initially and never thought of them When we designed scooters and bikes and expect them to sit on back seats only When DTC busses in Delhi were not low floor busses we expected them to catch them wearing Sarees. When we can move around in just underwear and tell them to be properly covered. When we can enjoy monsoon rains in open terrace in only underwear and they are supposed to only watch their brothers, husband and kids doing so. When we openly use foul abusive words based on their body parts and tell them to respect our culture by wearing properly. When we go for a hair cut in summers as we cannot bear long hairs in summers due to heat but tell them to keep Pallu or Chunni on their head. And so on countless restrictions on them……….. Can we slowly change our mentality and convert this world equally usable by them? One more thing, I travel a lot in Delhi, due to my job. My personal noting is that though there are much more male scooter and motorcycle drivers in comparison to ladies yet in absolute numbers I saw more non helmet wearing lady drivers than man. I request you (both ladies and gents) to wear helmets for your safety and not just to satisfy policeman.