Mid-day impact: VVCMC finally to fix doors on women’s toilets in Vasai slum

The squat toilets at Sant Jalaram Bapu Nagar chawl in Vasai East with iron doors that were attached on Sunday (right) the same toilets with missing doors a few days ago. Pics/Hanif Patel

In the wake of a series of mid-day reports, civic officials have finally attached iron doors to nine public toilets at Sant Jalaram Bapu Nagar chawl in Vasai East. The original doors had been stolen around six months ago, compelling women to squat in the open.

The chawl's residents had approached mid-day as Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) officials and local politicians allegedly turned a deaf ear to them. The locals thanked this newspaper for highlighting their issues in its January 7 and 14 editions.

Guruvachan Kannaujia, a resident, said, "We had been struggling to get the issue sorted for the past six months. It was really very uncomfortable for everyone, including young women, to squat in the open. We are thankful to mid-day for strongly putting across our genuine demands to the civic officials who weren't acting on our written complaints."

A woman resident Manju Anil Chakhalya said, "Thank you, mid-day. We had to use these toilets before sunrise and after sunset. Many a time, we had to hold it in for the whole day. Now, at least we won't have to wait until dark to use the toilet." While the doors have been installed, the water and power supply are yet to be restored to the squat toilets which are used by around 4,500 residents of the chawl.

The nine squat toilets, constructed in proximity to the railway tracks, were built on a huge drain around a decade ago. The area is guarded by iron railings, which are corroded and pose a threat to life. Chakhalya's neighbour Sheetal Goraswa said, "The doors have been installed. But what about electricity and water supply? The iron railings also need to be changed and maintained at regular intervals. When will these issues be fixed? Why do civic officials keep procrastinating? We had also demanded water and power and that the corroded railings be replaced."

Also read: IN PHOTOS: 'Toilets with no doors, no water, no electricity'

She added, "These toilets are close to the tracks and drug addicts can sneak into the toilets where young girls and women go. We request the municipal corporation to please make a boundary wall or gate the area so that the safety of women is not compromised." Another resident, Anu Mukesh Ambaliya, said, "The iron gates have been installed, but who will ensure they are not damaged or stolen again? We request officials to install at least one CCTV camera to check the movement of suspicious people. Otherwise, it will be back to square one."

"A disaster is waiting to happen as the iron railings are fully damaged, and we fear that children might fall in the huge drain below. The municipal corporation must ensure the safety of women and children," she added.

Workers attach the iron doors to the squat toilets at Sant Jalaram Bapu Nagar chawl in Vasai East on Sunday. Pics/Hanif Patel

Thanking mid-day for bringing about change, Ambaliya said, "We have suffered a lot in the past six months. We would stand up whenever a local train came by, as the passengers would pass lewd comments. They would look at us and comment, ‘Baith jao, baith jao'. It was so embarrassing. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You came like an angel and helped us at a time when no one, including local politicians and the municipal corporation, paid heed to us. Thank you, mid-day."

At the time when the doors were being installed, Rajendra Lad, executive engineer, VVCMC, said, "After the installation of doors, the water and electricity connections will be restored. Also, I have instructed my team members to fix the corroded iron railings."

Hours after mid-day published the January 7 story on the doorless toilets with no water and electricity connections, civic officials shot off a complaint letter to Manikpur police station, but no FIR has been registered so far. Asked about the reason behind the delay, Senior Inspector Sampat Patil said, "I had issued a letter to the (municipal) corporation." However, the police officer did not divulge the contents of the letter.