ANJALI YADAV/Dehradun
Pink toilets built by the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) to provide women with better public sanitation facilities are lacking basic menstrual hygiene provisions, including sanitary napkins. The facility is reportedly unavailable not only at these dedicated toilets but also in the women’s sections of other public toilets across the city. The problem is evident at the pink toilet in Premnagar, the first such facility built by the civic body in Dehradun. A box was initially installed there to provide sanitary pads to women, but it was never stocked and eventually became a dumping space. After The Pioneer had raised the issue with the MCD earlier this year, the toilet was repaired and made functional. However, instead of ensuring that sanitary napkins were available, the box has now been removed.
Asked about the absence of sanitary pads and the removal of the box, the person responsible for maintaining the facility said that senior officials had instructed them to remove it. They also confirmed that sanitary napkins were not being provided at the toilet.
The absence of this basic amenity has raised questions about the upkeep of public toilets and the availability of menstrual hygiene support for women. While dedicated facilities have been developed to make public sanitation more accessible to women, the lack of essential supplies points to a gap between infrastructure creation and the services provided to users.
When the issue was raised by The Pioneer, Dehradun municipal commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey said that the sanitary napkins previously kept at the pink toilet had been provided as a courtesy by the MCD and that there was no mandatory provision requiring their availability. He said that he had taken note of the feedback and would consider the issue in the future.
The residents are not, however, happy with such a cold and casual response. “A women’s toilet should have basic facilities such as sanitary napkins. It is disappointing that even a dedicated pink toilet does not provide this essential support,” said Rekha Negi, a resident.
Another resident Archana Kumari echoed her and said, “Sanitary napkins have not been available at this pink toilet for a long time. A box was installed, but it was never stocked with pads. It is disappointing that such a basic facility is still missing in our city.”
The issue also highlights the need for regular monitoring of public toilets to ensure that facilities intended for women remain functional and adequately equipped.
