Policewomen In Karnataka Finally Get Women-Only Toilets

Women cops in Karnataka have something new to cheer for. To ensure that the policewomen have access to separate restroom facilities, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday has announced special toilets for women police personnel in every police station across the state, a vital add-on to the state budget.

Relieved to know that a long pending demand has finally been fulfilled, former DGP Garudachar said, “I am very happy to hear that Siddaramaiah has addressed the issue,” The New Indian Express reported.

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"It's a welcome move, shows the government's sensitivity towards women staff​," said Roopa D Moudgil, DIG Prisons, Bfirst.in reported.

After years of struggle, women cops in the city, who have been demanding basic facilities, including separate toilets in police stations, can finally work in peace now.  These women cops, especially the ones who guard North Karnataka’s police stations, did not have separate toilet facility for women staff, Roopa claimed from a personal experience.

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Roopa recalled tough times during her posting in North Karnataka. She told Bfirst.in how they kept on demanding the basis utilities for years. According to her, funds were raised earlier for constructing separate toilets for women staff. "But once they were ready, they ended up being used by male staff," said Roopa. Reason? Most of the stations had less women staff. But with no choice, women staff had to use their colleagues' washroom.”

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She added, "I had gone for an inspection to a station in Yadgir. When I had to use the toilet, I found out that even the station head too did not have a washroom. So, with no option, I had to use the one allotted for constables.”

Sources claimed that before 2009, the IG and DG office on Nrupathunga Road too did not have a separate toilet for women. Now the budget claims to make a difference in this sensitive issue and that’s one good thing Karnataka heard of in a really long time. "It will help even women complainants," said Mangaluru City Inspector Kalavathi.

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Siddaramaiah also announced that a new forensic science centre is also being built for which Rs 20 crore has been allotted. Also, the existing Forensic Sciences Laboratory will be upgraded. The Karnataka government is surely making progress.

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