Gender Transformative Planning for Urban Sanitation in India
53
Such an action plan is incomplete without adequate perspective on gender. In a
nutshell, a gender-sensitive public toilet facility should satisfy the following aspects:
• Easily accessible to women
• Has the provision of basic facilities such as water and electricity
• Is clean and sufficiently maintained
• The design essentials ensure privacy and dignity for women
• Is safe for women to use at all times (i.e. equipped with adequate lighting and
security provisions)
• Provides for child and menstrual hygiene management.
The Government of India has published guidelines on community toilets in 1995.
The Bureau of Indian Standards also establishes norms that provide guidance on
various aspects of toilet management. According to Section 6.10 of the Revised SBM
(Urban) Guideline, 2017 “ULBs should ensure that for the convenience of the public,
at every public place (Banks, post offices, bus stops, petrol pumps, metro stations,
hospitals, restaurants, schools, health centers, anganwadis and citizen centers) there
should be at least one public toilet available and that the facility should be kept
functional and open for public use.”
There is a need to have a systematic approach with regard to provision and management of public toilets in a step by step manner and with particular focus on gender.
This can be done by using data management technology and user feedback for good
planning and decision making. In addition, it is important to work with ULBs to
prepare a road map or action plan on comprehensive gender-sensitive public toilet
management, covering planning, construction, operations, institutional and financing
aspects.
The Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) or SBM (Rural)
3 has issued guidelines to
include gender issues in the mission. It emphasizes on”… issues of lack of privacy,
personal safety, sexual harassment and gender-based violence are faced by women
and girls…” It recognizes the “health risks through medical conditions such as urinary
tract infections, chronic constipation and mental stress.” The guidelines call for
strengthening the role of women in “planning, procurement, toilet construction and
monitoring.”
It also clarifies that the term “women” does not mean a homogenous group. It
includes girls, adolescents, pregnant women, elderly women and challenged (physically, visually, etc.). The menstrual hygiene management (MHM)
4 needs of adolescent girls and women should take into consideration issues such as ample space,
water availability, sanitary pad disposal mechanism, privacy and adequate ventilation. As the gender issues in SBM (G) guidelines rightly mention “Elderly women
with age related constraints face increased risk of injury in everyday tasks, including
while using toilets… For many squatting is uncomfortable due to stiff joints…similar
3 Guidelines on Gender Issues in Sanitation (No. S-11018/2/2017-SBM), Swachh Bharat Mission
(Gramin), Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India.
4 Menstrual Hygiene Management, National Guidelines, 2015, Ministry of Drinking Water and
Sanitation, Government of India.
53
Such an action plan is incomplete without adequate perspective on gender. In a
nutshell, a gender-sensitive public toilet facility should satisfy the following aspects:
• Easily accessible to women
• Has the provision of basic facilities such as water and electricity
• Is clean and sufficiently maintained
• The design essentials ensure privacy and dignity for women
• Is safe for women to use at all times (i.e. equipped with adequate lighting and
security provisions)
• Provides for child and menstrual hygiene management.
The Government of India has published guidelines on community toilets in 1995.
The Bureau of Indian Standards also establishes norms that provide guidance on
various aspects of toilet management. According to Section 6.10 of the Revised SBM
(Urban) Guideline, 2017 “ULBs should ensure that for the convenience of the public,
at every public place (Banks, post offices, bus stops, petrol pumps, metro stations,
hospitals, restaurants, schools, health centers, anganwadis and citizen centers) there
should be at least one public toilet available and that the facility should be kept
functional and open for public use.”
There is a need to have a systematic approach with regard to provision and management of public toilets in a step by step manner and with particular focus on gender.
This can be done by using data management technology and user feedback for good
planning and decision making. In addition, it is important to work with ULBs to
prepare a road map or action plan on comprehensive gender-sensitive public toilet
management, covering planning, construction, operations, institutional and financing
aspects.
The Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) or SBM (Rural)
3 has issued guidelines to
include gender issues in the mission. It emphasizes on”… issues of lack of privacy,
personal safety, sexual harassment and gender-based violence are faced by women
and girls…” It recognizes the “health risks through medical conditions such as urinary
tract infections, chronic constipation and mental stress.” The guidelines call for
strengthening the role of women in “planning, procurement, toilet construction and
monitoring.”
It also clarifies that the term “women” does not mean a homogenous group. It
includes girls, adolescents, pregnant women, elderly women and challenged (physically, visually, etc.). The menstrual hygiene management (MHM)
4 needs of adolescent girls and women should take into consideration issues such as ample space,
water availability, sanitary pad disposal mechanism, privacy and adequate ventilation. As the gender issues in SBM (G) guidelines rightly mention “Elderly women
with age related constraints face increased risk of injury in everyday tasks, including
while using toilets… For many squatting is uncomfortable due to stiff joints…similar
3 Guidelines on Gender Issues in Sanitation (No. S-11018/2/2017-SBM), Swachh Bharat Mission
(Gramin), Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India.
4 Menstrual Hygiene Management, National Guidelines, 2015, Ministry of Drinking Water and
Sanitation, Government of India.