Delhi Gets Its First Women-Friendly Toilet & It's 'Pink'

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) inaugurated the first ever pink toilet in Vikaspuri to mark the occasion of International Girl Child Day. It has dedicated the toilet to all women and girls residing in Delhi.

SDMC mayor Kamaljeet Sehrawat inaugurated the pink toilet.

The toilet's construction comes at a time when the awareness to have more such toilets is at its peak. According to Sehrawat, the pink toilet will witness substantial footfalls of women and girls.

“We intend to open more pink toilets in order to provide a convenient safe place in the midst of the market, flooded with visitors and customers,” said Sehrawat

Also: Toilet stories: Why women in India are scared of going to the loo

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She, however, wants the users to keep the toilet clean for the next user.

“The PVR, Vikaspuri, is a major centre for shopping wherein a large number of women and girls purchase articles. A toilet like this was much needed at this place. This will go a long way in instilling a sense of security in women and girls as they will have a clean place of toilet with a sanitary napkin and incinerator facility,” added Sehrawat.

Also: ‘Toilet’ Gifts For Amethi Women This Raksha Bandhan

The toilet offers a plethora of facilities for the convenience of women using it. It is designed in a systematic manner and also provides other facilities like a feeding area for mothers.

Other efforts

Talking about SDMC's efforts, Sehrawat told Asian Age that it had constructed toilets in hotels and restaurants located in major markets for free usage by women and children. All petrol pumps have also been offering similar facilities.

Colour stereotype

While building such toilets is a positive measure, it must be noted that assigning a particular colour to such toilets perpetuates stereotypes about women.

The focus of the authorities should me more on constructing more and more user-friendly toilets for women, irrespective of whichever colour they get painted in. It is only then that more and more women can step out in public places and move around freely

Anchal Goswami, working as an intern with Women Commission, says that she is genuinely happy with the step. But the colour pink bothers her. She says that the real problem can be solved only when the authorities come up with such toilets at all crowded places in Delhi.

Initiatives of this kind will go a long way in making the city safer for women. We hope to see more such toilets all across the city, not just pink in colour.

Picture credits: Asian Age

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